Police Release Dash Cam Video of Chase Before Crash that Killed 4-Year-Old Boy

East Haven police have released video from a police cruiser dashcam that shows the pursuit of a stolen car that later crashed in Branford, killing a 4-year-old Hamden boy.

Police said 18-year-old Tyler Carey, of East Haven, was behind the wheel and driving erratically when East Haven police officers tried to stop the stolen white Toyota Corolla he was driving around 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

Carey fled and got onto I-95 North and East Haven police called off the chase before exit 55, police said.

Around two miles after police called off the chase, the Toyota hit a 2004 Honda Element head-on around, according to police.

Four-year-old Jairus Benjamin was sitting on someone’s lap and was not in a car seat when the crash happened and he was pronounced dead at Yale-New Haven Hospital, according to police.

Six people were in car, including two Carey, a 24-year-old New Haven man and four children under 14 years old, including Jairus, police said.

Carey and two other passengers fled the scene before police arrived, leaving behind the 4-year-old, a 15-year-old boy and the New Haven man, according to police.

Carey ran into the woods and a police dog found him, according to police.

He has been charged with reckless driving, engaging in a pursuit, misuse of plates, second-degree larceny, first-degree reckless endangerment, risk of injury to a minor, failure to have headlights illuminated and driving in an improper lane.

He was held on a $500,000 bond and police said more charges are likely because of Jairus’ death.

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