Staten Island police chase ends with stolen box truck crashing into several cars; 26 injured

STATEN ISLAND - A suspect is in custody following a police chase in the Stapleton section of Staten Island that ended with a stolen box truck ramming into several cars, leaving 19 civilians and seven police officers injured, the NYPD said.

The miles-long police chase began Thursday around 5:50 p.m. on Richmond Road, near the corner of Rockland Avenue.

"Numerous times we tried to hit mitigation to close, but it was obvious he was not going to stop, and he was putting the public in grave danger," said NYPD Chief Joseph Gulotta.

The scene after the box truck crashed Thursday evening. 

Police were investigating a man they said was wanted for several crimes crossing state lines earlier in the day, and he was caught driving a stolen W.B. Mason delivery truck.

During their investigation, police said the suspect got into the truck, cranked it up and attempted to get away, taking officers on a chase where he hit several other vehicles in his path, including at least one police unit.

A NYPD police cruiser that was damaged during the incident. (FNTV)

"We attempted to stop him," Gulotta explained. "He put his vehicle in reverse and struck one of our police cars. As he tried to drive away, he dragged the police car about 30 to 40 feet before it detached." 

At the end of the path, surveillance video showed where the truck collided into several other parked cars.

Surveillance video showed where the truck collided into the parked cars.

"Next thing I know, he hit from the back," Regine Lorquet recalled. "He was going real fast, 100 miles an hour, I don’t know, he was speeding."

Lorquet was in her car parked at a red light just feet behind the final collision.

Lorquet was in her car parked at a red light just feet behind the final collision.

"It was like you’re in a movie," Lorquet said. "I wasn’t even thinking about anything. I was just waiting for the light minding my business."

The man behind the wheel was taken into custody after the roughly 5-mile chase spanning across police precincts.

"My back and my back and my knee hurt," Lorquet said. "My back from the impact is really hurting me now bad."

The driver was taken to a hospital. Police have identified him as 48-year-old Michael Rompa. He is facing several charges, including reckless endangerment, fleeing police, assault, stealing a vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident. 

He was also wanted for numerous prior crimes on Staten Island and in New Jersey. 

The injuries were all minor, the NYPD said.

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