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Man dies in drag race on N. Conduit: Cops

By Stephen Stirling

Police said Edward Washington, 22, of 119-04 Inwood St., was arraigned Sunday for allegedly participating in a high-speed race that left 35-year-old John Southern of 144-44 106th Ave. in Jamaica dead and another passenger in his car in critical condition. If convicted, Washington could face up to 15 years in prison, according to the Queens district attorney.An off-duty Connecticut police officer who was driving along North Conduit Avenue was allegedly passed by a Mitsubishi Gallant being driven by Southern and an Infiniti G 35 driven by Washington shortly after 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Brown said. The DA said the two cars allegedly slowed down alongside each other before taking off at a high rate of speed. Police said they responded to a call of an overturned car at 5:37 p.m. and arrived to find Southern lying next to his overturned Mitsubishi Gallant in a parking lot near the intersection of Conduit Boulevard and 78th Street. Southern was pronounced dead at the scene of head injuries by EMS responders while an unidentified 18-year-old man was taken to Jamaica Hospital in critical but stable condition, according to authorities. An investigation into the accident revealed that Southern had allegedly been racing Washington's Infiniti G 35 when he lost control of his car and flipped over into the parking lot, police said. The DA said Washington was arrested at the scene after admitting to police that he was driving the Infiniti. Queens Criminal Judge Pauline Mullings set bail for Washington at $50,000 and he is scheduled to return to court Friday. Reach reporter Stephen Stirling by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 162.