Police Investigating Fatal Crash Involving Montgomery County Sheriff's Deputy
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Pa. (CBS) -- Sources say a 17-year-year-old was killed in a crash involving a Montgomery County Sheriff's deputy early Thursday morning.
It happened on West Main Street, between Hamilton Street and Forrest Avenue, around 5:30 a.m.
Organization Helping Cancer Patients By Making Socks
The chain of events began, authorities say, when Norristown Police responded to reports of suspicious activity on Buttonwood Street, but the driver of a white Hyundai Sonata there sped away before officers could ask for the car's registration.
A source tells Eyewitness News the group of five teens inside the sedan had been fleeing from an alleged robbery when they blew through a red light and collided with this black SUV, driven by an off-duty Montgomery County Sheriff's deputy.
"It was extremely loud. I mean, I was right there. I even got hit with some debris," said waitress Stacy Angelo, who was outside when the crash happened. "I was scared for like an hour afterward. I mean I saw everything; it was scary. Very scary."
Witnesses report seeing both vehicles spinning several times before landing on the lawn by a real estate office.
"Just a loud bang and then a second smaller bang," said neighbor Scott Hartman.
"And then to find out someone lost their life over this, it's upsetting," Angelo said.
The white sedan is nearly unrecognizable as all of the windows have been shattered out. Nearby, debris including remains of the street sign that marked the intersection littered the ground.
According to the source, the deputy was not involved in the pursuit and was just on the way to work when the sedan hit his vehicle. The deputy is expected to recover.
Security footage also appears to show one person trying to run from the mangled Sonata after the crash, though police quickly arrested him.
"The other gentleman came out, he went to run and he dropped to his knees. They said he broke both his legs," a witness said.
As investigators worked to piece together what happened by recreating the accident scene, they removed evidence including a safe from inside the smaller car.
The Montgomery County Sheriff's deputy injured in this crash is expected to be OK.
The four others inside the car are being treated at Paoli Hospital.
Meantime, the DA's Office and Norristown Police are not releasing the name of the teenager killed until family members are notified.
