Bay Area traffic stop of suspected stolen car leads to fiery crash, death

For the second time in the past week, a suspect has died in a collision following a failed traffic stop and pursuit initiated by the Vallejo Police Department, marking the fourth traffic fatality within the city this year.

Vallejo Police Department Public Information Officer, Sgt. Rashad Hollis said patrol officers initiated the traffic stop just before 11 p.m. Monday on Couch Street near Mississippi Street after a license plate check of the 2014 white Dodge Durango revealed it had been reported stolen by the San Francisco Police Department.

Reinforcements were called in to assist with a felony traffic stop, which was initiated as the vehicle reached the intersection of Couch Street and Redwood Street. At that time, Hollis said the driver – who was the sole occupant of the vehicle – refused to comply and led officers on a short pursuit before losing control of the vehicle and colliding with a fence, a structure and a tree at the intersection of Broadway and Alabama streets.

“Immediately after the collision, the vehicle ignited,” said Hollis. “Officers quickly removed the unresponsive driver from the vehicle to a safe location and provided medical aid until emergency services arrived.”

Despite efforts to revive the driver by medical and fire personnel, the male succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene, according to Hollis.

At this time, the identity of the driver is being withheld pending notification of next of kin by the Solano County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Officer Brad Kim at 707-648-4329 or email Brad.Kim@cityofvallejo.net.