71-Year-Old Woman Injures Troopers In Wild Chase

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — An elderly woman is accused of leading state troopers on a wild, high-speed chase down the New York State Thruway New Year's Eve. Cops said she injured three of them and smashed into two police cars while zooming in and out of the Ramapo service area.

Police who had begun pursuing her in Ulster County that evening had issued an alert. At 9:13 p.m., state troopers on I-87 in Newburgh saw a car matching the BOLO go by southbound. They tried to initiate a traffic stop on the 2017 black Hyundai Accent but the driver refused to stop.

After a 34-mile chase at "excessive speeds," police deployed a stinger, which is a tire deflation device.

It flattened both right tires. The driver kept going.

Shortly thereafter she entered the Ramapo service area, struck two state police vehicles, and zoomed back onto the Thruway.

Police said the car finally became disabled several miles further south, on the acceleration ramp to Exit 15.

The driver, Laura A. Duffy, 71, of Willow, NY, was placed into custody and transported to State Police offices in Tarrytown. She was evaluated by EMS and refused medical treatment, police said.

Meanwhile, three officers were transported to Good Samaritan Hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Duffy was charged with:

• Assault in the 2nd degree; a Class D Felony
• Criminal Mischief in the 2nd degree; a Class D Felony
• Reckless Endangerment in the 2nd degree; a Class A Misdemeanor
• Resisting Arrest
• Obstructing Governmental Administration in the 2nd degree: a Class A Misdemeanor
• Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle in the 3rd Degree; a Class A Misdemeanor
• Disorderly Conduct
• Vehicle and Traffic Violations

Duffy was arraigned before the Town of Ramapo Court and sent to the Rockland County Jail in lieu of $25,000 cash or bond. A return court date of Jan. 7 in the Town of Ramapo has been set.