- Alejandro Rentas, 22, of the Bronx, has been charged with manslaughter after crashing a Lamborghini SUV, killing a 21-year-old passenger
- Rentas drove away from police who tried to stop him for running a red light
- He crashed the car into a subway pillar in Upper Manhattan, which then burst into flames and burned Tiana Rodriguez alive
A speeding driver of a Lamborghini SUV has been charged with manslaughter after crashing the sports car, killing a 21-year-old passenger.
Alejandro Rentas, 22, of the Bronx was fleeing police when he crashed into a subway pillar in upper Manhattan on December 4.
Dramatic footage of the incident shows police removing Rentas from the $300,000 rented supercar moments before it burst into flames and burned Tiana Rodriguez alive.
Rentas was also charged Wednesday with assault and reckless endangerment while at Harlem Hospital.
NYPD officers had attempted to pull the car over after Rentas ran a red light about eight blocks from the crime scene.
Dramatic footage shows the $300,000 Lamborghini SUV catching fire
Tiana Rodriguez, 21, died in a car accident in Manhattan on December 4 last year
However, Rentas sped away at about 40 miles per hour with officers in pursuit around 10:15 p.m.
Moments later, Rentas tried to maneuver past a Hyundai Elantra as the 37-year-old driver attempted to turn left onto W. 213th St, police said.
Rentas’ maneuver failed and his car spun, crashed into the Elantra and then crashed into a pillar bearing the elevated Metro No. 1 line.
Officers removed Rentas from the wreckage, but were unable to reach Rodriguez as flames quickly engulfed the vehicle.
“It happened so fast I don’t know what happened,” the Elantra driver, who suffered minor injuries, told the Daily News.
‘It went too fast. I was like driving normally and then boom.”
Officers removed Rentas from the wreckage, but were unable to reach Rodriguez as flames quickly engulfed the vehicle
The car was soon completely engulfed in flames
Police and first responders at the scene of last month’s devastating car crash
Rentas was taken to the hospital where he was charged with manslaughter, assault and reckless endangerment
The 21-year-old was described by a family member as “a beautiful 21-year-old woman full of life.”
Rodriguez, also from the Bronx, died at the scene.
The 21-year-old was described by a family member as ‘a beautiful 21-year-old woman full of life.
“She lit up every room she entered. She was loved by her friends, father and mother.
Adding: ‘She will be missed.’
Rentas has no prior arrests.