Woman Steals Taxi, Crashes, Tries Again: Police

LOWELL, MA – A Lowell woman was arrested Tuesday after carjacking a taxi driver and attempting to steal two other vehicles, police said.

The cab driver told police the woman flagged him down around 9:30 a.m. on Lawrence Street and became "irate" when he declined her fare. When he attempted to calm her down, she allegedly punched him and drove off in the cab, dragging the driver several feet.

Minutes later, the cab crashed into the back of a dumpster hauler at the intersection of Rt. 38 and Boylston Street. Police said it was traveling at about 70 miles per hour at the time of the collision.

The woman then allegedly attempted to steal the truck she had crashed into but was stopped by the truck driver, according to police. She fled the scene on foot and was found nearby by a responding officer.

As the officer approached, she allegedly got into the police car and tried to steal it. The officer removed her from the car and placed her under arrest.

The woman, 23-year-old Leonilda Cruz, was charged with carjacking, attempted carjacking, attempted larceny of a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident after causing property damage, operating a motor vehicle so as to endanger the public and speeding.

She will be arraigned in Lowell District Court.

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