HYATTSVILLE, (DC News Now) — The Independent Investigations Division (IID) of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General identified the pedestrian officials say died after being hit by a driver who was fleeing from police last week.
In an update on Tuesday, the woman was identified as 33-year-old Esmeralda Montoya-Perez of Riverdale, Md.
The incident happened on Feb. 28 in Chillum when a Hyattsville City police officer tried to conduct a traffic stop on a car. The driver, 23-year-old Warren Leonard of Washington, D.C., briefly stopped before driving away on East-West Highway.
The officer briefly pursued the car before calling off the chase.
Officials said Leonard then sped through the intersection of East-West Highway and 23rd Avenue, drove onto the shoulder and hit Montoya-Perez, killing her.
Leonard sustained non-life-threatening injuries from the crash.
While he was being taken into custody, police found a gun with an extended magazine. Authorities also discovered Leonard had an outstanding warrant for second-degree rape.
He was charged with possession of a firearm.
IID identified the Hyattsville officer involved in the chase as Private Carlos Flores.
Flores has worked with the Hyattsville City Police Department for a year and has four years of prior service. He was assigned to the Patrol Services Division.
The crash remains under investigation.
