A police pursuit through Rochester ended in a fiery three-vehicle crash Friday morning that left one person dead and several others injured, according to New York State Police.
Troopers said members of the State Police Community Stabilization Unit attempted to stop a 2009 Ford Fusion for vehicle and traffic violations near Hudson Avenue and Avenue D around 10:14 a.m. on May 29. The driver failed to stop, prompting a pursuit through city streets.
Authorities said investigators deployed a tire deflation device at the intersection of Lake Avenue and Seneca Parkway about six minutes later. The Ford Fusion continued south on Lake Avenue, sideswiped a GMC Acadia that was changing lanes, then crossed into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with a Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The Ford Fusion caught fire after the crash. Troopers attempted to rescue the driver and used fire extinguishers in an effort to control the flames, but were unable to reach the vehicle’s operator because of the intensity of the fire. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators were working to confirm the person’s identity and notify family members.
The driver of the GMC Acadia was evaluated at the scene and reported no injuries. State Police said the Jeep’s driver and a rear-seat passenger suffered non-life-threatening injuries, while a front-seat passenger was hospitalized with serious injuries and was reported in stable condition.
The State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Forensic Identification Unit and Collision Reconstruction Unit responded to the scene. Representatives from the Attorney General’s Office and Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office also assisted. The crash remains under investigation by State Police and the Attorney General’s Office.
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