2 Women Hit By Boston Police Van Seek Justice: Report

BOSTON, MA — Two women were heading home from a party in Roxbury in February when a Boston police van slammed into their car, totaling it. Now, they are seeking criminal charges against the officer behind the wheel, who was arrested multiple times for negligent and reckless driving in the past, Boston.com reported.

According to the outlet, 37-year-old Sylvia Edwards of Dorchester was driving her sister, 33-year-old Kennette Pannell of Roxbury, home from a party in Roxbury overnight Feb. 19 when two Boston police officers—Edwin Centeio, who was driving, and Nelson Kadey—raced in the wrong direction down a one-way road and slammed into Edwards' car near the intersection of Dale Street and Walnut Avenue.

Edwards suffered a concussion and half of Pannell's body was pinned inside the crumpled car, slicing her liver and injuring her leg, Boston.com reported. The two officers were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

A spokesperson for the police department told the outlet that neither woman was cited for the crash and both officers are on active duty as an investigation into the crash wraps up.

Centeio, 31, was arrested in 2010 on nine charges, including assault with a dangerous weapon and reckless operation of a motor vehicle, after Canton police said he was pulled over for speeding on an off-road bike and tried to “ram” a police cruiser, according to Boston.com. Charges were dropped after he completed pretrial probation, court documents show.

In 2013, Centeio was arrested and charged with drunken driving, speeding, and negligent operation of a motor vehicle, though these charges were dismissed after he completed an alcohol education program, according to court documents.

"The Boston Police Department is failing to take basic accountability for a crash that they caused," Gabriella Mainiero, the two women’s attorney, told Boston.com. “If the situation was reversed and Sylvia had … caused a collision with the Police Department, we have no doubt that criminal charges would’ve been filed against her."

Read the full report at Boston.com.