Brooklyn woman tumbles out of moving SUV, is struck and killed by drunk driver on BQE
According to police, Chasna Thelemaque, 37, was in the rear passenger seat of a Toyota RAV4 when she opened the door at around 2:30 a.m. The Toyota was traveling westbound on the BQE, approaching exit 28 near the Brooklyn Bridge.
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A Brooklyn woman is dead after she tumbled out of a moving SUV on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway early Sunday morning and was struck by a drunk driver, who is now facing a slew of charges including vehicular manslaughter, according to the NYPD.
Police say Chasna Thelemaque, 37, was in the rear passenger seat of a Toyota RAV4 when she opened the door at around 2:30 a.m. The Toyota was traveling westbound on the BQE, approaching Exit 28 near the Brooklyn Bridge.
Detectives say Thelemaque then fell onto the expressway and tumbled into the right lane of traffic, where she was struck by a Hyundai Elantra, driven by 29-year-old Destiny Mendez, also of Brooklyn.
According to police, Mendez was allegedly driving under the influence.
Thelemaque suffered severe trauma to the body and EMS pronounced her dead at the scene, police say.
According to the NYPD, a 33-year-old man was behind the wheel of the Toyota, which, according to law enforcement sources, had New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) license plates.
It remains unclear why Thelemaque opened the Toyota’s door.
Police say the two cars did not make contact during the incident and both drivers remained at the scene.
Police arrested Mendez just after 4:45 a.m., according to detectives.
In addition to vehicular manslaughter, the NYPD says she is charged with vehicular assault, driving while intoxicated and driving while ability impaired.
