Man Going 154 MPH Before Fiery Crash That Killed 5, DA Says

RIVERHEAD, NY — A 23-year-old man speeding from police in a stolen vehicle who caused a horrific four-vehicle crash in Ridge on Valentine's Day that left five people dead – four from the same Riverhead family — was going 154 miles per hour, Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini said Thursday.

Sini announced a 42- count indictment against Jamel Turner, 24, of Bellport; Turner faced upgraded charges Thursday in Central Islip.

The fiery crash even left Turner's dog dead, Sini said — and left another victim significantly injured.

“This was a horrific event and it is my office’s intent to ensure that Mr. Turner never, ever gets out of prison,” Sini said. “This indictment is supported by tremendous evidence and we intend to prosecute Mr. Turner to the fullest extent of the law.”

On Feb. 14 at 11:20 a.m. Turner was driving a 2018 Chevrolet Camaro SS, which was reported stolen, eastbound on Route 25 when he crashed into an eastbound 2012 Mazda, Sini said.

“He was traveling, immediately prior to impact, at 154 mph,” Sini said. “That is faster than commercial jets go to take off.”

The Camaro then struck an oil truck traveling westbound and the Mazda struck a 1999 Infiniti traveling eastbound, he added.

“The passengers in the Mazda suffered blunt force trauma that’s beyond imagination, however, those individuals did not die from the impact,” Sini said. “Instead the crash was so intense that the car literally exploded and those four individuals burned to death.”

The four passengers in the Mazda, who were identified as Jacquelyn McCoy, 55, of Calverton; her daughter, Mary Alice Booker, 36, of Riverhead; McCoy’s son, Anthony McCoy, 33, and his girlfriend, Tameka Foster, 42, were pronounced dead at the scene by the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner, Sini said.

Lonidell Skinner, 19, of Bellport, who was a passenger in the Camaro, was ejected from the vehicle on impact and was pronounced dead at the scene, Sini said.

Turner’s dog, Prince, was also ejected from the Camaro and died, Sini said.

“Essentially what we have here was a Valentine’s Day massacre caused by this defendant,” Sini said.

Turner is alleged to have been operating the vehicle while impaired by marijuana and was in possession of crack cocaine at the time of the incident, Sini said.

Turner was indicted on 37 felonies, including five counts of second degree murder; seven counts of aggravated vehicular homicide; five counts of first degree assault; five counts of second degree manslaughter; aggravated vehicular assault; second degree assault; five counts of first degree unlawful fleeing from a police officer in a motor vehicle; second degree unlawful fleeing of a police officer in a motor vehicle; first degree reckless endangerment; third degree grand larceny; fourth degree grand larceny; third degree criminal possession of stolen property; fourth degree criminal possession of stolen property; and two counts of first degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree, Sini said.

He was also charged with second degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs; third degree unauthorized use of a motor vehicle; seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; and reckless driving, all misdemeanors, Sini said.

Turner was arraigned on the indictment Thursday in front of State Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho in Central Islip. He was remanded without bail to the Suffolk County Correctional Facility in Riverhead. He is due back in court on May 25.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Brendan Ahern, Bureau Chief of the Vehicular Crime Bureau, and Carl Borelli, Acting Deputy Bureau Chief of the Vehicular Crime Bureau.

Turner was also arraigned on a second indictment Thursday in connection with the alleged sale of cocaine on three occasions in August and September, 2017, Sini said. He was charged with three counts of third degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and three counts of third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, felonies, Sini said.

Bail on the second indictment was set at $500,000 cash or $1 million bond by Judge Camacho at the arraignment; the case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jacob Kubetz, of the Enhanced Prosecution Bureau, Sini said.

The driver of the oil truck was transported to a local hospital with serious, but non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the Infiniti was not injured.

Turner was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Major Case Unit detectives initially charged him with third degree criminal possession of stolen property and false personation.

The crash left the Riverhead community devastated, as the family of four victims killed in the unthinkable crash are raised funds to lay their loved ones to rest.

A GoFundMe, "Laying Our Family To Rest," was posted on behalf of Gregory Booker.

"Our mother Jackie McCoy, sister MaryAlice Booker, brother Anthony McCoy and sister-in-law Tameka Foster were tragically killed," in the crash, the page says.

Jackie, the page says, leaves behind her oldest son and daughter; MaryAlice leaves behind a 17-year old daughter, and Anthony and Tameka leave behind a young daughter and son.

Photo of the victims courtesy GoFundMe.

Crash photo, video by Fully Involved Media Group / Brian LaMonica Jr.