Massachusetts

Lowell Woman Accused of Carjacking Taxi

A Lowell, Massachusetts woman is facing charges after allegedly carjacking a taxi and crashing it into a truck on Tuesday.

The cab driver, Jimmy Gauthier, 65, of Lowell, told NBC 10 Boston he was on his way to pick up a fare on Lawrence Street when he spotted a woman running towards his car. Police say the woman was 23-year-old Leonilda Cruz and she became annoyed when the cab she flagged down would not give her a ride.

Gauthier says Cruz punched him, pulled him out of the car and drove away.

"All of a sudden she gets in reverse," Gauthier said, as he described reportedly being dragged more than 20 feet.  

According to police, Cruz was driving 70 miles per hour when she crashed the cab into the back of a dumpster hauler truck at the intersection of Rogers and Boylston Streets.

Police say Cruz tried to steal the truck but was prevented by the truck driver. According to police, Cruz ran away but was found by a responding police officer. Police say she also attempted to steal the responding officer's cruiser. 

Cruz was cited and released on her own recognizance. She will be arraigned Wednesday in Lowell District Court on charges including carjacking, attempted carjacking and leaving the scene of an accident.

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