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Trooper chase ends in deadly wreck
The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating a fatal overnight crash on the east side of Saint Paul that left an innocent person dead after a police chase.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - The driver accused of leading state troopers on a pursuit before causing a deadly wreck that claimed the life of an innocent person in St. Paul is now facing charges.
What's new?
Charges were filed Tuesday against Lorenzo Washington, 28, in the deadly wreck Sunday night on the west side of St. Paul.
He is accused of criminal vehicular homicide and fleeing an officer, resulting in death.
Background
According to the charges, troopers attempted to stop Washington on Interstate 94 near Marion Street around 11:15 p.m. on Sunday.
Minnesota State Patrol troopers said Washington stopped briefly before taking off, sparking a chase. The chase led officers onto Interstate 35E before the driver went the wrong way onto the ramp at Larpenteur Avenue.
At that point, troopers pulled off the chase, allowing a helicopter to track the vehicle. But, they said, Washington kept driving at a high rate of speed.
Ultimately, the charges state Washington crashed into a parked vehicle in the area of Larpenteur and Arcade Street.
Context
The charges estimate Washington was traveling at about 90 mph shortly before hitting the parked vehicle. The impact of the crash caused the person inside the parked vehicle to be thrown from the car.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Washington allegedly ran away from the scene on foot but was arrested a short distance away from the crash scene by a Ramsey County deputy.
What did he say?
The charges state Washington denied being the driver of the fleeing vehicle. Instead, he claimed he was a passenger.
However, troopers say when they informed him he was being investigated for criminal vehicular homicide, Washington "showed emotion and made statements inferring he was the driver." According to the complaint, Washington blamed the crash on a bump in the road that caused him to lose control.
Washington also allegedly admitted he saw troopers turn off their emergency lights and started to slow down before losing control.
What's next?
Washington is being held in Ramsey County Jail. He made his first appearance in court on Wednesday and will return next month.
The Source: A criminal complaint filed in Ramsey County.