BOSTON — Boston 25 obtained video through a records request with the city of Boston that shows a vehicle driving onto a South End sidewalk and nearly hitting a pedestrian while trying to escape police.
On April 6th around 5 p.m., officers were patrolling Tremont Street in an unmarked cruiser when they ran the plates of a silver Acura that was registered to a yellow BMW SUV, according to the police report.
The officers followed the Acura on Shawmut Avenue at Herald Street and attempted to stop the vehicle. The Acura then took a left turn onto Herald St. through a red light and crossed over three lanes of traffic trying to avoid the cruiser, according to the police report.
The video shows the moment the Acura got into the far-right lane of heavy traffic and drove directly onto the sidewalk, where a woman was walking, and multiple other people were waiting at the MBTA Bus Stop. The officers did not continue to pursue the vehicle on the sidewalk due to the risk to pedestrians, the report said.
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According to the police report, the Acura’s right-side mirror hit the building at 59 Herald Street as the driver traveled at a high rate of speed on the sidewalk, and nearly struck a pedestrian. The video shows the woman forced to flatten herself against the fence on the other side of the sidewalk to avoid being struck.
The Acura then made its way back onto the street, into the far-right lane of bumper-to-bumper traffic on Herald Street.
The video shows one of the officers jumping out of the unmarked cruiser and chasing the Acura on foot through rush hour traffic attempting to contact the driver.
The vehicle then took a right onto Washington Street and fled at a very high rate of speed before the officer could catch up.
The officers conducted an area search for the Acura but were unable to locate it.
There were no reported injuries during the incident.
There is no word if this remains an active search.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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