DELLWOOD, Mo. — A suspect caused a deadly crash while fleeing a traffic stop early Wednesday morning in north St. Louis County.
An officer spotted a vehicle speeding at about 4:20 a.m. Wednesday northbound on West Florissant Avenue, according to the Ferguson Police Department. When the office tried to stop the car, the driver, identified by police as Jarrad Dubose, 21, kept going. An 18-year-old passenger was also in Dubose's car.
Minutes later, the same car was identified in the QuikTrip parking lot at 10732 West Florissant Avenue, and Dubose abruptly steered to a parking lot across the street, police said. The car was headed southbound after leaving the second lot, and an officer attempted a traffic stop.
While fleeing police, the car failed to yield at West Florissant Avenue and Champlin Drive in Dellwood and struck another vehicle, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said.
The struck vehicle traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a steel railing and chain link fence, officials said. The driver of that vehicle, identified as 56-year-old Alisa Ruffin, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Dubose reportedly fled the scene on foot, and the officer at the scene focused on providing immediate aid to Ruffin instead of chasing the suspect. Police later located and arrested Dubose. His passenger was transported to a local hospital in serious condition, according to MSHP.
MSHP is investigating the crash, and Ferguson police said they were conducting an internal investigation, including a review of body and dash camera footage, to determine if any policy violations happened during the incident.
Anyone with information about the crash was asked to contact the Ferguson Police Department Detective Bureau at 314-522-3100.
Editor's note: An earlier version of this story misidentified the driver of the suspect vehicle. We regret the error.
5 On Your Side will update this breaking news story as more information becomes available.
Resources for crime victims
If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.
The Crime Victim Center of St. Louis has multiple programs to support victims of crime. Crime Victim Center’s programs range from direct services to crime victims as well as “creating awareness and change within the systems they encounter.”
Life Outside of Violence "helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence."
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has the Neighborhood Healing Network, which serves people who have experienced crime, violence or been the victim of an incident that caused trauma.
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