Rx Robbers Fatally Collide with Errol Morris Editor

[UPDATE BELOW] "From shoplifting to murder. How stupid is that?" said one witness of a fatal collision between a getaway car and woman carrying groceries across West 90th Street. Three thieves had just taken packages of allergy medication from an Upper West Side drug store and were being followed by police, when they made a U-turn straight into the 39-year-old victim. Witnesses told the press that the sound of the crash was deafening, and that food items and milk covered the hood of the car.

The trio held up a CVS around 8 p.m. and fled in a Dodge van with police hot on its tail. "[The car] ran all these red lights and hit three cars," one witness told the NY Post. "Then it came to a screeching halt, hitting this lady. All I saw was her laying on the ground lifeless." Schmeer, a California resident, was initially pinned between the getaway vehicle and a parked car. Other witnesses added that the impact "sounded like a bomb" and that the thieves' booty—Zyrtec packets—was strewn up and down the street.

The victim was rushed to St. Luke’s hospital where she died. Meanwhile all three perps ran for their lives. Cops were able to grab one suspect, but after leading police on a high-speed foot race, the other two escaped. "Two of them came running past the [West 91st Street] building," doorman Michael Gonzalez told the NY Daily News, adding that he saw police grab one of them. They are still at large.

UPDATE: The woman was identified as Karen Schmeer, the editor of Errol Morris' documentary films.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Sabrina Jaszi in News on January 30, 2010 5:06 PM

Comments [rss]

gimme

the dodge avenger in this incident was surely fast cheap and out of control, damn

Billiamsburg

if only there was someway to keep criminals out of the city so they weren't such a danger to decent folk. something like not allocating tax dollars to let them live here for next to nothing. or if we have to do gov't assistance then forced abortions for people on it at least.

longacre

Let this be a reminder that you need to look both ways even if you have the light.

Mr Mel

Even on one way streets. If the motorists don't get you, the bicyclists will.

jt10000

Yeah, just think of how many people died in the last year from being his by cyclists. Wow.

just saying

However motorists are more likely to kill you, instead of just injuring you.

Mr Mel

That's comforting.

Guest

it's not nypd's problem (yet) that there're stupid criminals out there. if there were no stupid criminals--as i hope there will not be, one day--this wouldn't have happened in the first place. too bad a few people seem to assume that there will always be crime, thereby giving these stupid criminals the right to exist in the first place, and blaming nypd who were just doing their job, at least in this scenario. of course there're crooked cops out there; and they are in the same category as those stupid criminals.

now, if there were no criminals then nypd will face a new and a real problem. at least a funny one, anyway.

thewildpansy

Too bad so sad don't jaywalk next time

glen glenn

get some class

just saying

I know the NY Post implied that Ms. Schmeer was jaywalking by writing she was crossing Broadway between 90th and 91th St., but it was unlikely she was jaywalking. Along that busy part of Broadway, there are medians--enclosed with barriers AND small chain link fences (presumably to discourage jaywalking). It would have been difficult for her to cross anywhere except at the designated red light crossing. But even crossing at the light wouldn't have necessarily saved her since the perps were speeding through red lights.

The earlier NYPost account also incorrectly stated she was from California instead of Boston, MA. It's no secret that the NYPost values sensationalism more than accuracy.

JenChungsBaby

Nobody crosses in the middle of the street on that section of Bway. It has huge medians that you'd have to climb over. No way she was doing it.

Regardless, I once dated someone who was hit on a sidewalk by a car fleeing the police. So it doesn't make much difference.

Spirit of 76

Do you practice being a jackass every day with a mirror in hand, or is this a natural talent that manifested itself even before your first words?

Dwayne Hoover

Police always have the option whether or not to initiate a chase; in many departments they are taught to weigh the risks versus the crime. I don't think someone stealing Zyrtec qualifies for putting anyone at risk for a chase through the UES at 8pm on a Friday night. So yes, that girl's death is ultimately partially the fault of overeager cops thinking with adrenaline rather than brains.

tgg001

Just curious--

So by weighing out the risk v. crime, since zyrtec isn't worth it obviously, (and I agree with you on that).....what would have been appropriate then? If it were say....100,000 dollars? Then it would have changed the course of events, so that the lady wasn't hit? Or......made it OK that she was hit?....And how would that training you spoke of apply here do ya think?

On another note, how exactly would that work? They stop by the store and ask for a list of items stolen, run it through a check-list, then go after the perps?

Spirit of 76

It's obvious if you're not trying to pick an argument. They would probably initiate a chase for a violent crime, like armed robbery or murder. Somebody who has demonstrated he's a danger to people would be a good candidate for pursuit. Property crimes like shoplifting, not so much. It's only money and it's replaceable.

jt10000

Well said.

tgg001

Ok, that part makes more sense.

fauxsella

I'm not a huge fan of the police, but if ever they were to take out their dystopian suburban rage on a group of criminals, it ought to be this lot -- who, as it happened, cut down a decent person. Instead, though, the criminals will get 7 years in jail, and we'll all forget... and it will happen again... and again...

Dwayne Hoover

Nice job NYPD. I'm sure it was really worth someone's life to initiate a car chase for stolen Zyrtec. And you pathetic bastards couldn't even catch everyone.