Two dead in major crash in central Fresno after a suspect tried to flee from police

Two men are dead after a high speed chase turned into a fatal collision in central Fresno, police said.

According to Fresno police Lt. Bill Dooley, officers just before 4:30 p.m. were attempting to stop a “suspicious” vehicle with an expired registration at Belmont Avenue near Roeding Park. The driver of the vehicle refused to stop and sped off at a high rate while continuing on Belmont then turning north onto Palm Avenue.

Witnesses told police the vehicle was traveling at around 100 mph.

Because the high rate of speed, officers continued to follow but did not closely pursue the vehicle for safety reasons.

As officers traveled farther north, they came across the vehicle, which had crashed at the intersection of Palm and Clinton avenues.

Dooley said witnesses told officers the suspect ran a red light and struck white Toyota Corolla that was attempting to make a left turn from westbound Clinton onto southbound Palm.

“The impact was extremely traumatic,” Dooley said.

The collision sent both cars a block north onto Terrace Avenue. The driver’s side of the Corolla was crushed in, and the front end of the suspect’s unidentified vehicle was totaled.

The drivers of both cars were killed. No other passengers in the vehicles.

Dooley said officers have no information to release about the two men at the moment. The intersection at Palm and Clinton Avenues will remain closed as officers continue their investigation.

This story was originally published April 16, 2020 at 6:32 PM.