A driver who police had earlier tried to pull over was killed in a crash early Friday morning on Bloomington's west side.
Bloomington Police said officers tried to pull over a car around 1:25 a.m. Friday after it blew two red lights on Market Street and struck another vehicle at a stop sign. The car didn't stop, and police ended their attempt for a traffic stop. The driver of the stopped vehicle was not injured.
Two minutes later, a vehicle on fire was spotted at Locust Street and White Oak Road. Authorities said the car was “fully engulfed in flames” and “popping sounds and small explosions” could be heard coming from the vehicle. The car had crashed into a power pole, causing the power lines to come down and ignite the fire.
BPD determined the car was the same vehicle that officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop earlier. The driver of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following the incident, Bloomington Police Chief Jamal Simington offered his condolences to the driver’s loved ones. He also said everyone needs to “do their part to help us reach our goal of reducing crashes by 10% this year.”
The crash remains under investigation by the BPD and McLean County Coroner’s office.
