On Thursday, February 1, 2024, a stolen vehicle crashed and burst into flames following a police pursuit, resulting in the death of all four occupants in Dallas, Texas.
The driver, attempting to evade Irving police, lost control, causing the vehicle to fly off the Woodall Rodgers Freeway ramp and crash near Interstate 35.
The chase began around 2 a.m. in Irving after Dallas police officers spotted the stolen vehicle on the 3200 block of North Beltline Road.
Despite efforts to stop the car, the driver sped away, leading police on a high-speed pursuit into Dallas.
“The vehicle lost control, went off the ramp to Woodall Rodgers, and crashed, leading to a catastrophic fire,” said Irving Police spokesperson Anthony Alexander.
The Dallas Medical Examiner identified the crash victims as 21-year-old Sabria Lacey, 21-year-old Anthony Lisbon, 22-year-old DeAvion Aubert, and 21-year-old Robert Gowans Jr.
During the pursuit, a Dallas County Sheriff’s Office deputy sustained injuries not considered life-threatening. The deputy was positioning to deploy spike strips when the stolen vehicle hit a light pole, causing it to fall onto the deputy’s vehicle.
The aftermath of the chase and crash led to the closure of the Woodall Rodgers exit ramp on southbound I-35E, and the Continental exit off northbound I-35E, significantly affecting early morning traffic.
The incident has sparked a mixed response from Irving residents about the police’s approach to chasing stolen vehicles.
An ongoing investigation includes a review to determine if the Irving Police Department’s chase policy was appropriately followed.
