BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. — A Boynton Beach man faces multiple charges after he fled from the scene of a crash that killed a mother and her daughter this week, according to police.
Investigators said the wreck happened at about 8:10 p.m. Tuesday at the intersection of Meadows Boulevard and North Congress Avenue.
Police said a silver Kia Stinger, driven by Neoni Copeland, 23, of Boynton Beach, was traveling south on North Congress Avenue at a high rate of speed when it collided with a blue Toyota Corolla.
The Corolla attempted to make a left turn to head west onto Meadows Boulevard at the time of the impact.
After the collision, investigators said Copeland fled the scene on foot but was apprehended nearby.
The driver of the Toyota Corolla, Jenice Woods, 27, and a passenger in her car, Marcia Pochette, 57, both died from injuries sustained in the wreck. Neighbors said Woods and Pochette were a mother and daughter, and Woods was pregnant with her first child.
Boynton Beach police said Copeland had fled from the West Palm Beach Police Department a short time before the fatal crash.
West Palm Beach police officers placed on leave
The West Palm Beach Police Department said they initiated an internal affairs investigation on Wednesday regarding the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Police Chief Frank Adderley said he has placed the officers involved on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the Boynton Beach Police Department's crash investigation. Adderley did not specify how many officers were placed on leave.
"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," Adderley said in a statement. "We are cooperating with the Boynton Beach Police Department and are committed to full transparency."
Copeland faces charges of resisting arrest and two counts of leaving the scene of a crash causing fatality. Boynton Beach police said additional charges are pending as they continue to investigate.
Online jail records show that Copeland is being held without bond at the Palm Beach County jail.
Friends and neighbors of victims 'heartbroken'
Neighbors who live next door to the victims said Woods and Pochette were like family members. They saw the aftermath of the crash.
"I felt very sad and heartbroken," neighbor Lorna Reynolds said. "I was in tears, and I was also consoling her husband at the same time because he was in tears."
Reynolds said the two women were driving back from picking up food but never made it home.
"This was a sad moment for all of us, so we're trying our best to be strong and keep our faith in god," Lorna Reynolds said.
She said Woods was expecting her first baby.
"At this stage, she 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," Lorna Reynolds said.
Lorna said she and her sister, Claudette Reynolds, have been neighbors with the victims' family for more than 15 years.
"To watch them grow up, I went to her wedding, beautiful wedding, we were really looking forward to them having a wonderful life together, so it's a significant loss for us," Claudette Reynolds said.
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She described both women as positive and kindhearted, with strong religious beliefs.
"In our culture, we're Jamaican, so we say that God won't give you more than you can bear, but sometimes it is absolutely overwhelming when it is unexpected and so sudden," Claudette Reynolds said.
WPTV reporter Joel Lopez spoke on the phone with both husbands of the victims. One of them told WPTV that he's been busy making funeral arrangements.
