Two people were killed in a car crash on Hempstead Turnpike in Elmont early Sunday morning, according to Nassau police.
The incident began shortly after 4 a.m., when an officer saw a male driver and female passenger arguing inside a 1995 Dodge Caravan. While the officer was out of his car to investigate, the driver allegedly backed up and intentionally struck the officer's cruiser twice before fleeing.
The Caravan was then spotted speeding down Hempstead Turnpike near Meacham Avenue when it struck a 2002 Ford driven by a 22-year-old man. The van then crashed into a nearby utility pole.
The driver and passenger in the van were pronounced dead at the scene. They have been identified as 23-year-old Eduardo Sosa Zapata, of Westbury, and 22-year-old Jackeline Reyes, of Bellmore. The driver of the Ford refused medical attention.
Both vehicles were impounded for safety checks and police say their investigation is ongoing.