Woman fled traffic stop, despite pregnant companion sitting on rear tailgate, cops say

Southampton Town police used a tire deflation device to catch a woman who fled a traffic stop in Hampton Bays while her pregnant companion was sitting on the pickup tailgate, police said Sunday.

The fleeing driver was arrested while the pregnant woman, who also faces charges, escaped injury because officers caught her "before she hit the ground," police said Sunday in a news release.

Police Friday night had pulled over Kimberly Kulick, 30, of Hampton Bays, after her vehicle was seen speeding on Bittersweet Avenue, police said. Kulick, who is pregnant, was found to have a suspended license and was accused of possessing crack cocaine, police said.

As Kulick was being questioned on the rear tailgate of the truck, police asked a passenger, Carolyn Parker, 42, of Riverhead, to get out of the vehicle for questioning.

Instead, Parker jumped into the driver's seat and pulled away, police said. Officers caught Kulick as she fell off the back of the truck and before she hit the ground. Officers chased the pickup until it was stopped by stop strips in the road, police said.

Parker was found with crack cocaine and charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree obstruction of justice and several traffic violations, police said. She was held for arraignment.

Kulick was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and second-degree aggravated driving unlicensed. She was released and ordered to return to a future court date.

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.