Brooklyn man sentenced to up to 12 years for deadly police chase crash in Bushwick
Brooklyn, NY – A 33-year-old Cypress Hills man was sentenced to up to 12 years in prison Thursday for causing a high-speed crash while fleeing police that killed a 29-year-old woman in Bushwick last year.
Juan Lopez pleaded guilty in August to second-degree manslaughter, fleeing police in a motor vehicle, and leaving the scene of a crash that resulted in death. Prosecutors said Lopez was driving a black 2018 Mercedes-Benz at nearly 75 miles per hour when he ran a red light and slammed into another vehicle, ejecting the victim from the car.
The crash occurred around 5:28 a.m. on May 26, 2024. NYPD officers from the 83rd Precinct attempted to stop Lopez for speeding on Gates Avenue. Instead of complying, he accelerated and ran a steady red light at the intersection of Gates and Central Avenues, colliding with a 2005 Honda Pilot that was lawfully entering the intersection.
The force of the crash caused the victim, Micah Elizabeth Dukes, to be ejected from the vehicle. She sustained multiple traumatic injuries, including severe head trauma, facial injuries, and a punctured lung. She was first transported to Elmhurst Hospital before being transferred to NYU Langone Medical Center, where she died on June 8, 2024.
After the collision, Lopez fled on foot but was quickly apprehended by officers. Police noted signs of intoxication, and Lopez later admitted to drinking alcohol before driving.
Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Eugene Guarino sentenced Lopez to an indeterminate term of four to 12 years in prison.
District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said Lopez’s decision to flee from police, run a red light, and drive at dangerous speeds turned his vehicle into a “deadly weapon” and sent a strong message that such lawlessness will be prosecuted to the fullest extent.
Key Points
- Juan Lopez, 33, was sentenced to 4 to 12 years for a fatal crash while fleeing NYPD
- He ran a red light at 75 mph and struck another vehicle, killing passenger Micah Dukes
- Lopez fled on foot and later admitted to drinking before driving