Two dead after car flips during alleged escape from police stop in Worcester

WORCESTER, Mass. — A fatal crash that killed two in Worcester early Saturday morning occurred after the driver of the vehicle sped away from a police stop, according to the Worcester Police Department.

Two of the seven occupants of a Toyota Highlander involved in a pedestrian altercation were pronounced dead when the vehicle flipped over while allegedly attempting to escape from police.

According to police, two males walking down Water Street reported nearly being struck by a Toyota Highlander at about 12:15 a.m. After gesturing at the car, the driver opened the car’s side door, gesturing a black handgun at the man that made the motion.

The victim called 911, got into his own vehicle, and tailed the Toyota. After he reported to officers that the Toyota stopped on Grafton Road, police attempted to conduct a felony stop. When the driver was ordered out of the vehicle, he turned the Toyota back on and fled down Grafton Street at a “high rate of speed.”

While several officers attempted to reenter their cruisers, one officer, who hadn’t exited the car, sped past the others to pursue the fleeing Toyota. The pursuing officer quickly came across a dark truck that had been involved in a crash in front of 1015 Grafton Street. Further up the road, the officer came across the Toyota, flipped upside down in front of the Roosevelt School.

The seven passengers in the Highlander were removed from the wrecked vehicle. One 34-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene while the 35-year-old driver of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the hospital. The five other passengers were transported to a hospital to be treated for their injuries.

Police recovered a black airsoft gun designed to resemble a Glock 19 handgun from the crash.

A preliminary investigation indicates that the Toyota struck a curb while speeding away from the attempted stop and hit the Dodge Ram. The Toyota then struck a tree, causing it to flip.

The names of the victims in the crash have yet to be identified.

The crash remains under investigation.

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