Teen was fleeing police prior to fatal crash in Pompano Beach, Sheriff’s Office says

A woman died after her vehicle was hit by a car driven by a 17-year-old who was fleeing Hallandale police at the time of the crash in Pompano Beach, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office.

A preliminary investigation concluded that shortly after 11 p.m. Friday night, a 17-year-old man from Hallandale Beach was driving a 2016 Dodge Charger sedan while being pursued by the Hallandale Beach Police Department in reference to an armed carjacking which just occurred in their jurisdiction, according to a Broward Sheriff’s Office release.

The Dodge Charger was traveling north on Interstate 95 and “proceeded to exit at West Copans Road and was preparing to make a left turn to go westbound, on a steady red light,” the release said.

Patricia Schmelz was driving a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe traveling east in the center lane of West Copans Road, approaching the off-ramp for I-95 North.

According to investigators, “the Hyundai proceeded through the steady green light and through the intersection. After running the red light, the Dodge Charger proceeded into the path of the Hyundai, causing the Hyundai to collide with the driver’s side of the Dodge Charge in a T-bone style collision,” the release said.

Pompano Beach Fire Rescue responded to the scene and took Schmelz to a hospital where she was pronounced dead, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Detectives said there were six occupants in the Dodge Charger, who were all detained by Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies and Hallandale Beach police officers.

The Hallandale Beach Police Department will be filing any criminal charges, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators found “excessive speed, along with fleeing and eluding law enforcement,” were contributing factors to the crash,” the news release said.

This article and headline have been updated to correct the age and identity of the driver of the fleeing vehicle.