BROOKLYN, NY— At a traffic stop at Evergreen and Weirfield streets, a driver sped away in a Mazda CX-5, running stop signs, red lights and swerving through Bushwick streets as NYPD officers pursued him, mirroring his dangerous driving, alleged a recently filed lawsuit.
About 10 minutes after the initial traffic stop on May 9, the pursuit ended at Eldert Street and Knickerbocker Avenue, where Matthews struck Jessica Vidal and her mother, Juanita, in a crosswalk, killing Juanita and seriously injuring Jessica.
He later pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter and leaving the scene of an incident resulting in death.
On May 29, Justice Adam Perlmutter sentenced him to 5 to 10 years in prison.
According to Jessica Vidal's lawsuit, Perlmutter rejected the prosecution's recommendation of the maximum punishment and said the officers pursuing Matthews' vehicle bore "significant responsibility" for the crash that killed Juanita Vidal.
Vidal's lawsuit, filed Aug. 4 in federal court in Brooklyn, argues that the NYPD officers created a dangerous situation by pursuing him at high speed through a residential neighborhood.
"This was such a tragic loss. We will carefully review these claims," the city's law department told Patch.
Matthews remained only a few seconds ahead of the pursuing officers as he sped northeast along Eldert Street toward Knickerbocker Avenue, the lawsuit claims.
"At no point during the chase did the pursuing NYPD officers activate their car's sirens to alert the public," the complaint read.
The lawsuit also cites neighborhood resident Yolanda White, who told NY1 she did not hear sirens after the crash and said, "maybe if they had that on, people would have been aware."
The lawsuit also accuses the City of maintaining a policy and practice of dangerous vehicle pursuits and failing to properly train officers for situations involving fleeing motorists.
In February 2025, the City changed its vehicle-pursuit policy.
In announcing the changes, the NYPD said officers' discretion to initiate a pursuit would be limited to "the most serious and violent crimes," specifically felonies and violent misdemeanors.
Pursuits would no longer be permitted for traffic infractions, violations or nonviolent misdemeanors, according to the department.
The department said it recorded 2,278 pursuits in 2024, with about one in four resulting in a collision, property damage or physical harm.
67 percent began after a driver fled a vehicle stop, according to the NYPD.
"The NYPD's enforcement efforts must never put the public or the police at undue risk, and pursuits for violations and low-level crimes can be both potentially dangerous and unnecessary," Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said during the announcement.
Vidal is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, as well as attorneys' fees and other relief.
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