This morning, a tragic incident unfolded at the intersection of East Alameda Avenue and South Peoria Street in Aurora, where two adults died after crashing a stolen car into a light pole. The Aurora Police Department confirmed that the crash occurred around 11:30 a.m., as the driver attempted a left-hand turn onto Alameda Avenue at a high rate of speed. According to the CBS News Colorado, the officers were in the middle of a pursuit when the driver lost control of the vehicle.
Initially, the car, which officers say was stolen from Fort Collins over the weekend, was being tracked by police. Spotted at East Mississippi Avenue and South Peoria Street, officers unsuccessfully attempted to pull the car over. Denver7 reported that the pursuit lasted only a few minutes before the fatal crash occurred, resulting in the closure of the intersection for an extended cleanup and investigation.
No other vehicles were involved in the catastrophic event, though a nearby fence sustained damage from the debris of the collision. Aurora Police District 1 Cmdr. Justin Shipley reflected on the incident, emphasizing its danger, "They really did endanger the community with their high speeds on Peoria Street," Shipley told CBS News Colorado. He added that the driver weaved into oncoming traffic before returning to the correct side and ultimately attempting the left-hand turn.
Details about the identities of the two deceased individuals are pending from the Arapahoe County Coroner's Office. While the driver's fatal decision to flee has led to this grim outcome, the gender and age of the passenger remain unconfirmed. "The officers were having a hard time ... safely keeping up with the suspect due to his speed and erratic driving behavior, which resulted in the deadly crash," Shipley said in a briefing obtained by Reporter-Herald. Aurora Police Department has declared that there will be an internal review of the pursuit and department policies in the wake of this incident.
