High-Speed Police Chase Ends In Fatal Crash, Car 'Disintegrated'

DETROIT (WWJ) - A high-speed chase overnight on Detroit's east side leaves one person dead and police searching for answers.

The situation unfolded early Tuesday morning after police received a phone call about a man waving a gun and threatening a woman in the area of Charles and Gable streets, near Mound Road and Mt. Elliot Street.

Assistant Police Chief Steve Dolunt said officers responded to the neighborhood but they couldn't find the vehicle described by the caller.

"They parked at the corner and a car fitting the description came back again, so they decided to follow it," Dolunt told WWJ's Mike Campbell.

The suspect refused to stop for the officers, according to police, and a six minute-long chase ensued, during which speeds topped 90 miles per hour. At one point, officers momentarily lost sight of the vehicle before a bright flash of orange lit up the dark sky. They then came upon the wreckage; the suspect crashed his car into a tree on French Road, east of I-94 between Shoemaker and Warren, and was ejected from the vehicle, which went up in flames.

"The car actually disintegrated," said Dolunt.

The officers were even more shocked at what they found inside the car.

"There were two car seats in the car so we assume that the individual has children, and the other individual who called felt that she or the kids were in fear for their life," said Dolunt.

It appears the suspect was the only person inside the vehicle. He we declared dead at the scene, but police are still trying to identify him.

Investigators are also looking for the person who made the call which led to the chase. Police say the caller was a female and she used a cellphone.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police at 313-267-4600 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.

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• Detroit
• Police Chase