Police Chase Ends in Fatal Crash

NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY - An early morning police pursuit ended with the death of the man police were chasing.

The chase started in Newcastle and ended in a crash in southwest Oklahoma City. A Newcastle officer said he was checking on a car near Highways 37 and 76.

He said the man was acting strangely just before a fight ensued. The officer taserd the man and the man got out of his car and into another one and fled the scene.

He eventually crashed into another car and stopped in this ditch at southwest 134th and Interstate 44.

Police called for an ambulance, but the man died.

"The officer didn't make the choice to flee police," Det. Kevin Morrissey said. "The officer didn't make the choice to drive at a high rate of speed, had not lights on. The officer arrived here, tried to take the man into custody; requested medical assistance for them as soon as they could."

Detectives are investigating the events of the pursuit and crash, and the man's cause of death. His name has not been released.