Traffic Stop Leads to Police Chase and Deadly Crash

One man is dead following a deadly police chase in Alton, Texas, on Wednesday, July 26. Learn the details of the crash and more about police-involved car accidents from your McAllen car accident lawyers at the Villalobos Law Firm.

The Deadly Chase

A 39-year-old man died on Wednesday night after instigating a police chase following an attempted traffic stop. According to a press release from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), an officer with the Alton Police Department attempted to make a traffic stop on Los Ebanos Road at around 9:04 p.m. The vehicle, a black Pontiac Grand AM, failed to yield to law enforcement.

A chase ensued, eventually traveling through an Alton cul-de-sac. The Pontiac was traveling southbound on Los Ebanos Road south of Mile 4 Road when it struck the south embankment of a canal, causing the vehicle to roll onto its top and left side.  The driver was the only occupant of the vehicle at the time.

The driver died at the scene. An investigation into the crash by DPS Troopers remains ongoing.

Police Chase-Involved Car Accidents: What You Need To Know

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Law Enforcement Bulletin (LEB), 1% of all police chases result in a fatality. This figure might seem low, but it’s roughly double the rate of fatalities seen in accidents in general. This means police chase-related accidents are about twice as likely to result in a fatality compared to other accidents. 

In fact, the LEB states that one person dies every day in the U.S. in police chase-related car accidents. Of those killed in police chase-related accidents, 42% are innocent bystanders.

Unfortunately, you may also be more likely to be killed in a pursuit-related accident in Texas than in any other state. Safer America Consumer Safety Information reports that Texas sees more pursuit-related injuries and deaths than any other state.

There is also a question as to whether or not police chases are justified. The LEB states that the majority of all police chases are the result of traffic stops, meaning relatively minor incidents. In recent years, some jurisdictions have outlawed police chases in an attempt to reduce harm.

All of this goes to show just how serious police chase-involved car accidents can be for the community in general. When pursuits happen, the collateral damage can be severe. 

To avoid being involved in a pursuit-related crash, your best bet is to always obey when a police vehicle attempts to pull you over and to always move over to the shoulder whenever you hear sirens coming. Sometimes, there’s nothing you can do to avoid being involved in an accident, but taking extra care when driving near police vehicles can help keep you safe.

If you’ve been injured in a police-involved car accident, you can reach out to a McAllen car accident lawyer for help seeking compensation.

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Source: myRGV