BRIGHTON, Mich. – A driver who fled officers during a traffic stop died Tuesday night after a chase ended with a crash, police said.
At about 10:45 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15, officers tried to conduct a traffic stop on a black Dodge Charger for operating recklessly on W. Grand River Avenue.
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The suspect didn’t stop, which initiated a pursuit, according to a release from the Brighton Police Department.
The suspect vehicle fled on W. Grand River Avenue to Beaver Street and continued on N. East Street. After that, the driver fled along Flint Road, Hilton Road and then turned onto Old US-23.
When the suspect vehicle entered US-23, it traveled in the northbound lanes to try to pass a vehicle that was traveling in the southbound lanes.
Police say that when the suspect vehicle attempted to merge back into the correct traffic lane, it sideswiped a southbound vehicle, causing it to spin.
While spinning, the suspect vehicle hit a vehicle that was traveling in the northbound lanes and then rolled over.
The driver, who was the only person inside the suspect vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police say the driver inside the vehicle that was sideswiped was not injured, and the driver in the northbound vehicle that was hit was taken to a medical facility with minor injuries.
A preliminary investigation by the Livingston County Accident Reconstruction Team suggests that “excessive speed contributed to the crash,” according to the release.
All of the drivers involved in the crash were wearing seatbelts.
Police say they are still investigating whether alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash.
“This is a tragic incident, and as law enforcement officers, we never want to see a life lost,” said Brighton police.