Two individuals died in a Monday morning crash whereas fleeing from Aurora law enforcement officials in a stolen automotive, in accordance with the division.
The double-fatal crash occurred at 11:33 a.m. as the motive force tried to show onto East Alameda Avenue from South Peoria Street and struck a light-weight pole, Aurora Police Department spokesperson Justin Shipley mentioned in a news briefing.
Both individuals contained in the automotive died on impression.
The fatalities occurred amid a tenfold enhance in Aurora police chases this yr.
The company’s pursuits skyrocketed after the police division opened up its insurance policies to permit officers to chase extra suspects. The metropolis carried out 148 police pursuits within the six months after the coverage change — up from simply 14 chases in that timeframe in 2024. The variety of individuals injured in chases quintupled, with about one in 5 chases leading to damage after the change this yr.
The overwhelming majority of the rise in chases was from law enforcement officials pursuing stolen automobiles, knowledge obtained by The Denver Post confirmed. Stolen automobile pursuits accounted for 103 of the 148 pursuits within the six months after the coverage change.
Police chases in Aurora skyrocket after coverage change, accidents greater than quintuple
The four-door sedan that crashed Monday was stolen in Fort Collins two days earlier and noticed in Aurora at 11:26 a.m. Monday, Shipley mentioned.
Police tracked the stolen automotive to the intersection of East Mississippi Avenue and Peoria and tried to drag the motive force over at 11:32 a.m., Shipley mentioned.
The unidentified driver fled north on Peoria, and the Aurora officers pursued. Shipley mentioned the crash occurred lower than a minute later.
No different automobiles have been concerned within the crash.
“The suspect failed to yield to our officers’ traffic stop and made the decision to flee and drive erratically,” Shipley mentioned through the briefing. “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 mentioned the male driver at one level weaved into oncoming site visitors earlier than trying the flip onto Alameda, however no different automobiles have been hit.
Both of the crash victims will probably be recognized by the Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office.
Shipley mentioned the 2 are each believed to be adults, however added that police had but to verify their ages or the passenger’s gender.
Sign as much as get crime news despatched straight to your inbox every day.