Holly MatkinChicago, IL – The Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) has released video footage that captured the moment a fleeing vehicle flipped onto its hood during a pursuit after crashing into another motorist (video below).
One person was killed and five more were injured in the violent two-vehicle collision, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
The incident occurred at approximately 4:40 p.m. on July 10, when officers attempted to stop a gray 2015 Chrysler in the 7100-block of South Stewart Avenue.
The suspect initially slowed down to a near-stop, then abruptly sped away and pulled into oncoming traffic, dashcam footage showed.
The driver pulled back into the proper lane for a moment, but continued to weave in and out of oncoming traffic as it steadily pulled away from the pursuing officers.
Seconds later, the suspect vehicle slammed into a silver Mitsubishi that was attempting to turn left at an intersection, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
The force of the impact sent the suspect’s car careening into a nearby tree before it flipped onto its hood and slid to a stop, the video showed.
“We need an ambulance quick!” one officer said over the radio as they pulled up to the overturned wreckage.
One suspect managed to pull himself out of the vehicle by sliding on his back along the pavement.
The bloodied male began to panic as he got to his feet and looked at the scene he’d just emerged from.
One of the other occupants was lying beneath the car.
“My homie, bro!” he said frantically. “Look at him! Get me away from this s–t!”
The officers placed the suspect in handcuffs, then took him to a patrol vehicle to assess his injuries.
He insisted he was fine, and begged the officers to help his friends, who he claimed were “drunk.”
The officer repeatedly told him that an ambulance was on the way as she attempted to calm him down, bodycam footage showed.
Jason Yancey, 23, was partially ejected through a window of the Chrysler, and was pronounced dead at the scene, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
An autopsy revealed that he died of multiple crash-related injuries, and his death was ruled an accident.
Two women, ages 50 and 23, were traveling in the Mitsubishi when the suspect vehicle slammed into them, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
They were both transported to St. Bernard Hospital in good condition.
Three other occupants inside the Chrysler, 23-year-old Donte Thomas, 23-year-old Mario Morgan, and 25-year-old Denzel Washington, were all arrested, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
They were subsequently released without charges while the investigation continued, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Officers also discovered two weapons inside the suspect vehicle, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
The investigation into the pursuit and subsequent crash is ongoing, COPA spokesperson Ephraim Eaddy told the paper.
“COPA investigates allegations of police misconduct within its jurisdiction and incidents that occur as a result of police action that result in great bodily injury or fatality,” Eaddy told the Chicago Sun-Times in an email. “In this case because of the circumstances involving the civilians, the Chicago Police Officers and their pursuit of the vehicle, COPA Investigators responded to the scene the night of the incident and launched a full investigation which is currently ongoing.”
You can watch bodycam, dashcam, and surveillance footage of the pursuit and deadly collision in the video below. WARNING – Graphic content and language: