Stolen Pickup Truck Driver Dies After Chase Ends in Crash & Explosion

[kellyhound]

DETROIT -The driver of a stolen pickup truck who led police on a high-speed chase through several communities died Thursday Aug. 11 2009 when the chase came to a crashing halt and his vehicle erupted into flames on Detroit's west side.

Taylor police chased the stolen black pickup truck for 10 to 15 minutes around 6:45 a.m., before the truck hit 2 other vehicles and exploded.

Video shows the pick-up traveling westbound on Michigan Avenue when it strikes a minivan turning left at the intersection.

The pick-up sideswipes another vehicle and slams into a utility pole and erupts into a ball of flames.

"I see the truck speeding like crazy," said eyewitness Raed Dharhan.

"I let him pass me, he almost hit me and I run behind ... and I see the truck hit the light pole and then blow up."

Hose Hernandez, the driver of the vehicle that was hit second, told he was struck seconds after pulling out of a restaurant where he had just finished a cup of coffee.

Hernandez's truck was sideswiped and pushed 10 feet into a pole.


"It's hard to think anything at that time.
I am just trying to get out of my truck," said Hernandez.

He walked away from the crash with minor cuts and bruises.

"I think this is my lucky day today.
That's the way that I see it," Hernandez told.

The fire briefly spread along the sidewalk in front of a nearby Tel-Way restaurant.

"If it had been 3 minutes earlier, I would have been right there on the sidewalk and it would have cremated me, too," said Earl Owens, who was sweeping the streets in front of the restaurant.

Three tires could be seen rolling across the seven-lane road as the stolen pickup was immediately engulfed in flames.

Fire and rescue crews extinguished the fire and later covered the pickup with a tarpaulin.

Police have confirmed that the driver of the pickup truck died.

The driver who was hit first suffered minor injuries.

Michigan Avenue is closed between Livernois and Lonyo roads while police investigate and clean up the scene.

The driver of the pickup stole the truck in Monroe and the chase began in Taylor when police noticed the vehicle was stolen.

[bumfiddler]

awwwwww poor crackhead

[michiganfan8693]

DETROIT -- Authorities say one person has died after a fiery crash in Detroit in which police were chasing a stolen pickup truck when it collided with a minivan and hit another truck before striking a utility pole and then burst into flames.

Michigan State Police Trooper John Gora said the driver of the stolen truck died and the other two drivers suffered minor injuries in the Thursday morning crash.

Gora says the vehicle was stolen from the Detroit suburb of Taylor. It belonged to a Monroe resident.

~Police have not determined the identity of the dead driver and did not immediately release the names of the other drivers.
Television stations WJBK and WDIV aired portions of the chase live. Watch the video for the violent end of the crash.

Flames from the explosion blackened the road and nearby sidewalk.

[rob666]

I could be wrong, but it looks like the van hit him on purpose.
The cops were right behind him with lights on.

[CrashTest]

Yay! I'm glad the slitch killed himself before he ran over an innocent person.I wish all these chases would end like this.
Then I could enteetain myself properly

I love it.

[thisisfucked]

lol , new to this site. comments are interesting to read :p im 21

[secret_squirrel]

The light was green for the truck to go through. I know he was being chased but he had the right of way. he had the green. The van driver should get charged.

[indybob]

Why did the red mini van pull in front of him.You can see the badguy has a green light---not saying that it's good to steal other peoples things-------but that's what I saw.Check it out.

[ILDiva]

Sadly, the person driving the van will probably get ticketed for runing a red light ,and failure to yield the right of way. Glad the idiot driving the stolen truck got toasty.

[renjr]

Awesome!!!...
Thanks for Posting.