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Passenger ‘exits’ moving Uber in NYC — then gets killed by alleged drunk driver

By Jesse O’Neill2 min readNew York Post
Passenger ‘exits’ moving Uber in NYC — then gets killed by alleged drunk driverPassenger ‘exits’ moving Uber in NYC — then gets killed by alleged drunk driver

A passenger "exited'' her moving Uber on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway early Sunday -- and was then struck and killed by a drunken driver, according to police and law-enforcement sources.

A passenger “exited” her moving Uber on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway early Sunday — and was then struck and killed by a drunken driver, according to police and law-enforcement sources.

The fatal incident occurred just before 2:30 a.m. on the westbound expressway as it approached Exit 28 in DUMBO, the NYPD said.

Rush hour traffic on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway in New York City with the sunset in the background.
Chasna Thelemaque, 37, died after exiting a moving Uber on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway early Sunday. deberarr – stock.adobe.com

Chasna Thelemaque, 37, of Prospect Park South in Brooklyn was riding in the back of a Toyota Rav4 — which sources said was an Uber — when she “exited” out of the moving vehicle’s rear door and landed onto the right lane of the 50 mph highway, police said.

It was unclear whether she may have fallen or bolted from the car.

Thelemaque was then struck and killed by a Hyundai Elantra driven by 29-year-old Destiny Mendez, who was intoxicated, according to cops.

Vehicles in rush hour traffic on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway near the Brooklyn Bridge.
Destiny Mendez, 29, was charged with vehicular manslaughter and DWI after allegedly striking Thelemaque. Paul Martinka

Mendez, of East Flatbush, Brooklyn, was charged with vehicular assault, vehicular manslaughter, DWI and driving while ability impaired, police said.

Traffic moves along the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and the entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City.
Traffic moves along the Brooklyn-QueenThe 33-year-old Uber driver stayed at the scene on the westbound highway in DUMBO, according to police. Getty Images

The driver transporting Thelemaque — a 33-year-old man — remained on the scene, according to the NYPD.

The Rav4 and the Elantra did not collide, police said.