"When officers tend to curb a vehicle, they don't know whether that offender is going to comply. They just don't know. We don't try to pull over the car with the anticipation of them taking off on us.



"What was known so far is that protocol was followed," he said.



According to police radio traffic, the on-duty officer tells the dispatcher at the beginning of the pursuit, "Just had a black Cherokee take off."



About 15 seconds later, the same officer radios, "Squad, Kostner and Roosevelt, Cherokee just got into a bad accident."



The dispatcher asks if the officers were involved or if they just witnessed the crash. The squad car was not involved.



The dispatcher asked if an ambulance was needed.



"Absolutely, squad. Absolutely."



Another officer told the dispatcher that the Fire Department needed to extract someone from the cars, and she wasn't able to tell what kind of vehicle the second one was.



"There's still people in there and they cannot get out," she said.



The families of the officer and the woman could not be reached.



The off-duty officer was part of the Ogden District tactical team, according to Guglielmi.



"This is among the most difficult, heartbreaking addresses I've had to make since becoming superintendent due to an unnecessary loss of life," Johnson said. "Deepest condolences to the young lady who lost her life, her family and the family of the off-duty police officer."



He said the Independent Police Review Authority is investigating the incident "in the name of impartiality and public integrity."



Sharon Fairley, chief administrator for IPRA, was at the scene of the crash.