A pregnant woman and her mother were killed in Florida after a suspect collided with their car while fleeing police.
Neoni Copeland, 23, was speeding in Boynton Beach in a Kia Stinger when he collided with a blue Toyota Corolla at about 8:10 p.m. local time on Tuesday, July 30.
According to investigators, the crash occurred while the Toyota Corolla was attempting to turn. Following the incident, Copeland allegedly attempted to leave on foot before being apprehended by approaching cops.
According to police, Jenice Woods, 27, the driver of the Toyota Corolla, and her mother, Marcia Pochette, 57, were carried to a hospital and pronounced dead.
Junel Pochette, Woods’ father and Marcia’s husband, told CBS12 News that his daughter was two months pregnant at the time of the tragedy. “Two and a half lives were taken away from me: my daughter, my wife, my future grandchild,” he told reporters. “We were looking forward to a new grandbaby.”
Lorna Reynolds, a neighbor of Woods and the Pochette family told WPTV that their deaths “were a sad moment for all of us.”
“At this stage, [Woods] was preparing to be a mother, and her mother was going to be a grandmother, so this was very, very heartbreaking for all of us,” she said.
The Boynton Beach Police Department told WPTV and WFLX that Copeland escaped from West Palm Beach police officers soon before the crash.
The West Palm Beach Police Department confirmed to WPTV that an internal affairs investigation into the collision began on Wednesday, July 31. Seven cops have been placed on administrative leave pending the inquiry.
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Sources tell WPBF that cops may have violated the department’s pursuit standards by pursuing Copeland.
“While there are many questions and few answers at this time, we need to let the facts lead us to the outcome of the investigation,” West Palm Beach Police Chief Frank Adderley told the media in a statement. “We are cooperating with the Boynton Beach Police Department and are committed to full transparency.”
The Boynton Beach and West Palm Beach police departments did not immediately reply to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Copeland is charged with resisting arrest and leaving the scene of a tragic crash. Police warned the outlets that their probe could lead to additional charges.
According to PEOPLE, Copeland is currently being held without bail in Palm Beach County Jail. It is unclear whether he has a legal representative to comment on his behalf.