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Police chase in Vallejo: One person dies, five are injured

Theo

Several police officers gather at the scene of a nighttime accident and talk. One officer holds his head while the others are deep in conversation. Debris is scattered on the street and police tape can be seen in the background."Several police officers gather at the scene of a nighttime accident and talk. One officer holds his head while the others are deep in conversation. Debris is scattered on the street and police tape can be seen in the background."
Vallejo police investigate the aftermath of a fatal car chase on July 6, 2024 in Vallejo, California. (Geoffrey King / Open Vallejo)

A traffic stop in Vallejo turned into a deadly chase early Saturday morning that left one person dead and five others hospitalized.

The incident began when Vallejo police attempted to stop a gray Mercedes near Sonoma Boulevard and Lemon Street for an alleged traffic violation at about 12:54 a.m. on July 6. The driver fled, and police began a two-mile chase, according to tape recordings.

A car with severe front-end damage is standing in the middle of an intersection at night, with debris lying everywhere. Police and rescue workers are on site. In the background you can see a gas station with illuminated signs and barricades.A car with severe front-end damage is standing in the middle of an intersection at night, with debris lying everywhere. Police and rescue workers are on site. In the background you can see a gas station with illuminated signs and barricades.
A Mercedes fleeing from Vallejo police rammed this Subaru Outback at the intersection of Tennessee Street and Sonoma Boulevard on Saturday, causing it to burst into flames. (Geoffrey King / Open Vallejo)

The pursuit ended less than 90 seconds later when the Mercedes collided with a blue Subaru Outback at 75 mph near the intersection of Tennessee Street and Sonoma Boulevard. The impact killed a passenger in the Mercedes and the Subaru burst into flames.

According to a statement released by Vallejo police on Saturday afternoon, police and firefighters provided medical aid to the occupants of the two vehicles. According to an audio recording from the dispatch center, officers found at least one firearm in the Mercedes. Five people were taken to local hospitals.

A police officer with a torch and a plastic bag is seen at the scene of a nighttime accident. In the background, barrier tape and flashing lights of police cars can be seen, and a gas station can be seen in the distance.A police officer with a torch and a plastic bag is seen at the scene of a nighttime accident. In the background, barrier tape and flashing lights of police cars can be seen, and a gas station can be seen in the distance.
Vallejo Police Ofc. Himanshu Saini places a road flare after a deadly police chase on July 6, 2024 in Vallejo, California. (Geoffrey King / Open Vallejo)

The dead man’s body was found under a yellow tarp more than five hours later, according to witness statements and photos posted on social media. A traffic light that was left hanging after the accident was removed late Saturday afternoon.

A nighttime scene of a gas station cordoned off with police tape. Several vehicles, including police cars with flashing lights, are present at the scene. Debris is scattered on the road, and the gas station's illuminated signs and pumps can be seen in the background.A nighttime scene of a gas station cordoned off with police tape. Several vehicles, including police cars with flashing lights, are present at the scene. Debris is scattered on the road, and the gas station's illuminated signs and pumps can be seen in the background.
A Mercedes fleeing police came to a stop in front of the Royal Gas station in Vallejo after a fatal collision on July 6, 2024. (Geoffrey King / Open Vallejo)

Authorities have not yet released the name of the man killed. The Solano County Major Crimes Task Force, led by the district attorney’s office, arrived at the scene and has taken over the investigation.

Last year, two people were killed by people fleeing Vallejo police, and several collisions occurred during police chases in Vallejo, research by Open Vallejo shows. At least 1,377 people died in police chases nationwide in 2020 and 2021, according to an investigation published in the San Francisco Chronicle in February of this year.

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