Police: Hudson Valley Convict Caught Trying to Flee Country
A Hudson Valley man who was found guilty in a 2014 crash that killed a man was caught by police at a New York City airport allegedly trying to flee for Jamaica.
Clifford Perkins, of New City was convicted of negligent homicide after a fatal motorcycle crash killed Scott Phillips, DJ Father Shaheed, in May of 2014.
Perkins skipped out on his scheduled August 3 sentencing. He was found and arrested Saturday at LaGuardia Airport. NBC reports, he was trying to fly to Florida for a connecting flight to Jamaica.
Officials say a year-long investigation determined that Perkins was speeding on his 2002 Yamaha motorcycle on the Sprain Brook Parkway on May 25, 2014, when his motorcycle hit a 2001 Mazda from behind.
The accident caused the Mazda driver to lose control of his vehicle and collide with a 2013 BMW motorcycle driven by 45-year-old Scott Phillips.
Phillips, from New Jersey, was a DJ and a member of the hip-hop group Poor Righteous Teachers.
An accident reconstruction by New York State Police determined that Perkin’s bike was traveling at a minimum of 82- 95 miles per hour. Witnesses told investigators around 12 motorcycles were seen at speeds around 100 miles per hour.
Police say Phillips motorcycle was traveling around 60 miles per hour at the time of the fatal crash.
At the time of the collision, Perkins possessed a revoked and suspended New York State License with a cancelled motorcycle endorsement.
Perkins is scheduled to be sentenced Monday in Westchester County Court.