Woman Leads Cops On High Speed Chase, Crashes Into Tree: Police

LAUREL, NY — A woman possibly having a "psychiatric problem" led police on a high speed chase, crashing into a tree; she later resisted arrest and injured an officer in the struggle, police said.

According to Southold Town Police, the crash took place Saturday at 8:22 p.m. on New York State 25 near Laurel Lane in Laurel.

Cynthia Warshawsky, 54, of Albertson, NY, was arrested and charged with second degree assault, a felony, unlawful fleeing and resisting arrest, police said.

At 7:22 p.m. police responded to an address in Southold on Smith Drive South after a report of a "person acting irrationally, possibly having a psychiatric problem," police said.

When authorities arrived, the woman fled the scene in a vehicle, leading officers on a pursuit during which she committed numerous traffic violations, police said.

In the interest of safety, the pursuit was terminated by the patrol supervisor as it headed west on Route 25 toward Mattituck, police said.

A short time after pursuit was ended the vehicle struck a tree on Route 25 in Laurel, coming to rest in a farm field, police said.

As the driver attempted to flee the scene, officers pursued her by foot, and she was apprehended after a short struggle, police said.

The woman was not injured and was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for a psychological evaluation, police said.

One police officer was injured in the struggle and was treated and released from Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport after treatment of minor injuries, police said.

Patch file photo.