Two dead and three arrested after car crash in Colchester, police said

Two people are dead and three people have been arrested after a car crash in Colchester. Police said the crash occurred around 7:35 p.m. on East Lakeshore Drive. According to police, the vehicle was being pursued by Colchester police officers after an incident occurred in Burlington and Burlington police launched a chase. Burlington police said they targeted the vehicle, which contained four men who became visible to officers after learning they were threatening people at gunpoint. They initially learned the vehicle’s whereabouts near Church and Main streets. There were no reports of actual shots fired. Burlington police said the occupants were in a white SUV, which was a rental car, before eventually transferring to a black SUV, which was also a rental car. Burlington police said they followed the vehicle through Burlington and South Burlington. As the vehicle crossed the Colchester border, BPD officers backed off but issued a “stand by” order to other agencies. Colchester police then followed the vehicle from West Lakeshore Drive to East Lakeshore Drive. Officials said two of the vehicle’s occupants died in the crash. Three other people were arrested and taken to the University of Vermont Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad said that as for the fifth occupant, they are unsure where the person came from and are still investigating whether he was in the vehicle when the initial threat was made. Murad said the rental cars have been the subject of drug-related crimes in Burlington prior to this incident. They do not know if these particular occupants were involved in those situations. Officials said they have no indication that anyone else was injured in the incident. They also do not believe anyone originally in the vehicle escaped. The Burlington Fire Department, Colchester Rescue and the Vermont State Police crash team also assisted with the incident. East Lakeshore Drive is currently closed to the public. This is a breaking news story and will be updated when more information is available.

COLCHESTER, Vermont —

Two people died and three people were arrested following a car accident in Colchester.

According to police, the accident occurred around 7:35 p.m. on East Lakeshore Drive.

According to police, the vehicle was pursued by Colchester police officers following an incident in Burlington and a pursuit by Burlington police.

Burlington police said they targeted the vehicle, which contained four men, who officers became aware of after learning they were threatening people at gunpoint.

They first discovered the location of the vehicle near the corner of Church Street and Main Street.

There were no reports of actual gunshots.

According to Burlington police, the occupants were in a white rental SUV and eventually transferred to a black SUV, which was also a rental car.

BPD said they followed the vehicle through Burlington and South Burlington.

As the vehicle crossed the Colchester border, BPD officers withdrew but instructed other agencies to “stand by.”

Colchester Police then followed the vehicle from West Lakeshore Drive to East Lakeshore Drive.

Officials said two of the vehicle’s occupants were killed in the crash. Three other people were arrested and taken to the University of Vermont Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries.

Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad said they did not know exactly where the fifth occupant came from and were still investigating whether the person was in the vehicle when the original threat was made.

Murad said the rental cars have been the subject of drug-related crimes in Burlington prior to this incident. They don’t know if these particular occupants were involved in those situations.

Authorities said they had no evidence that anyone else was injured in the incident.

They also do not believe that any of the vehicle’s original occupants escaped.

The Burlington Fire Department, Colchester EMS and the Vermont State Police crash team also assisted with the incident.

East Lakeshore Drive remains closed to the public at this time.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.