Suspect in Police Chase Crashes Into Car, Killing Innocent Bystander

Police said the suspect’s pickup truck struck the car, causing it to hit a utility pole and killing the driver at the scene

A police pursuit in Georgia on April 5 ended in the death of an innocent bystander who was unaware of the high-speed chase while driving near it.

In a statement sent to PEOPLE, Georgia State Patrol captain and public information director Michael Burns said a suspect in a Ram 1500 pickup truck struck a Dodge Challenger during the chase in Atlanta.

“The impact caused the Dodge Challenger to leave the roadway where it struck a utility pole and became disabled,” the statement said. “The driver of the Dodge Challenger was pronounced deceased on scene.”

The chase began after the Atlanta Police Department (APD) requested state troopers to pursue the suspect at 2:57 p.m. local time on April 5.

“Officers told troopers that the Ram 1500 was involved in a pursuit from APD in previous days,” the statement added. “A trooper responded to the area of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive at Fairburn Road, where APD officers attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle, but the driver refused to stop, initiating a pursuit.”

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The suspect then entered Interstate 285 and started driving “in a reckless manner” before exiting onto State Route 166, heading west.

At the intersection of State Route 166 and Barge Road, the suspect “disobeyed a red light and struck a Dodge Challenger, which was traveling north on Barge Road,” the statement said.

Identities of the suspect and victim have not been disclosed, and charges are pending as authorities continue their investigation.

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