Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

VIDEO: Driver Hails Cab After Leaving Passenger to Die in Burning Car

By  Trevor Kapp and Ben Fractenberg | October 16, 2017 8:52am 

BROOKLYN — A Flatlands man who can be seen in chilling cellphone video abandoning a woman in a burning car on the Gowanus Expressway before walking off and hailing a taxi is now facing manslaughter charges, police said.

Saeed Ahmad, 23, crashed his Infiniti G35 into a concrete barrier on the Gowanus Expressway near Centre Street around 4 a.m. Friday, causing the vehicle to burst into flames, police said. 

But instead of helping passenger Harleen Grewel, 25, he left her to die in the burning wreckage, according to police. 

"Can I get a ride?" Ahmad is heard asking a yellow cab driver, in the video published by ABC 7.

After firefighters extinguished the blaze about 80 minutes later, they found Grewel, of Astoria, dead in the passenger seat, the NYPD said.

Police later found Ahmad, of Flatlands, at a nearby hospital where he was being treated for burns, officials said.

He was arrested and charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, aggravated unlicensed operation and speeding, according to police.

He does not have any prior arrests, the NYPD said.