Police: 2 teens, 16 and 14, were inside stolen van involved in fatal crash with car in Yonkers

YONKERS, N.Y. (WABC) -- Police say two two teenagers were inside a stolen van that slammed into a car in Yonkers Monday, killing the driver.

The victim has been identified as 48-year old Sharlene Stinson of Yonkers. The teens, a 16-year old boy and 14-year old girl, are in critical condition at a local trauma center.

Police say the van, a white 1997 Dodge Ram, had been reported stolen in the area of Warburton Avenue on Nov. 14th.

A 911 call Monday afternoon reported that the van's occupants were breaking into parking meters on Schroeder Street.

According to Yonkers police, officers tried to pull over the vehicle, but the teens did not pull over and continued northbound on Warburton Avenue, where the van struck the Hyundai Sonata being driven by Stinson.

Video revealed that the suspect vehicle crossed over the double yellow line, driving northbound on the southbound side of Warburton Avenue.

No charges have been filed at this time as the investigation continues. There is also an investigation into whether that chase should have been called off by police.

Police say the teens, as well as additional suspects not involved at the crash scene, may have been involved in other criminal activity with the stolen van in the recent past.

Stinson, the mother of a young boy, worked at S.A.I.L. at Ferncliff Manor, a school for severely disabled children, as an occupational therapy aide.

"Sharlene was a fantastic educator, someone that always put the children first and their needs first and was selfless in everything that she did in this building, and she was a role model in every single way you can be in education," said Matt Rubinstein, Ferncliff Manor's education director.

She had just left work for the four-mile drive home when the crash occurred. She was pinned in her sedan.

Anyone with information can contact the Detective Division at 914-377-7724.