Woman, 19, killed in crash by suspect fleeing from police
DETROIT (WJBK) - A woman speeding away from Warren police caused a fatal crash killing a 19-year-old and injuring her little brother Sunday night.
"I got off a plane this morning and had to go the medical examiner to identify my daughter's body," said Nathaniel Crawford. "And she's 19."
Nathaniel Crawford shared his memories of his late beloved 19-year-old daughter Daziah Crawford.
"My daughter was the most beautiful creature I have ever seen, that God ever created," Nathaniel said.
Daziah was on her way home from church Sunday evening in her silver Nissan with her 15-year-old brother, Dalyn inside. As the siblings neared Lappin and Fairport streets witnesses say they spotted a green Ford Taurus speeding straight toward them.
"She had her foot on the gas since Eight Mile," said Rayshawn Steen. "You heard her before she got down here."
Warren police tried to pull over the woman speeding near Eight Mile and Fairfield moments earlier, but the woman was going too fast through the neighborhood.
"The officer backed off," said Warren Police Commissioner William Dwyer. "But I would say she was going in excess of 50-60 miles per hour."
The woman slammed into Daziah and Dalyn. Their mother got a phone call heading to the scene.
"They weren't responsive, either one at the moment," said Natavia Crawford, the mother of the victims. "And the only thing that I could do, was to just drop to my knees and pray."
Warren police say after smashing into their Nissan, the speeding driver got out of her car and ran.
"I think she was high," said Steen. "Because she couldn't run."
That driver who Warren police identified as 28-year-old Alyssa Verbeke has quite the rap sheet. fleeing and eluding police, weapons and drug charges, home invasion and prostitution.
Verbeke even once jumped from a second-story window to escape drug treatment.
"We did find suspected crack cocaine in the car," Dwyer said.
Dalyn Crawford suffered a concussion and a bruised hip but is okay physically. But he is without his best friend who Daziah's parents describe as fun-loving and compassionate. She was an aspiring writer at Eastern Michigan University - even writing and performing her own songs.
"She was beautiful, she was talented," Natavia said.
"And I'm going to miss her - a lot," Nathaniel said.
Verbeke is expected to be arraigned as early as Tuesday while Detroit police investigate the crash. These parents are also questioning that Warren officer's role in their only daughter's death.
"We deserve to know what happened to our daughter," Natavia said.
"It didn't have to happen," Nathaniel said. "We shouldn't be in this situation."