1 dead, 2 hospitalized after high-speed chase ends in violent rollover in San Antonio

Bexar County Sheriff's Office deputies investigate the scene of a fatal crash that happened at O'Connor and Nacogdoches. A driver who led police on a 22-minute chase across the Northeast Side with three passengers, including a pregnant teen, died in a violent rollover crash Wednesday morning. All four individuals inside the truck were in their late teens to early 20s. less Bexar County Sheriff's Office deputies investigate the scene of a fatal crash that happened at O'Connor and Nacogdoches. A driver who led police on a 22-minute chase across the Northeast Side with three ... more Photo: Nain Leon Photo: Nain Leon Image 1 of / 92 Caption Close 1 dead, 2 hospitalized after high-speed chase ends in violent rollover in San Antonio 1 / 92 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — A driver who led police on a 22-minute chase across the Northeast Side with three passengers, including a pregnant teen, died in a violent rollover crash Wednesday morning.

Bexar County Sheriff's Office spokesman James Keith said the chase began as a traffic stop in the 7900 block of Crestway around 8:50 a.m. A patrol deputy pulled over the black pickup for speeding, and the driver took off.

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Keith said deputies pursued the truck across town for nearly 20 minutes, crossing in and out of city limits, before a Department of Public Safety helicopter joined in track the vehicle, allowing deputies to back off the truck for safety concerns as the driver entered an area where traffic was heavy.

Minutes later, the truck flipped on O'Connor Road just east of Nacogdoches Road around 9:15 a.m.

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Keith said all four individuals inside the truck were in their late teens to early 20s. The driver died at the scene, while the pregnant teen and one of the male passengers were taken to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The fourth passenger did not sustain any injuries. Keith said deputies recovered a stolen handgun from the wreckage, along with some tools.

At this point, investigators have no idea why the driver fled. They are questioning the passengers to determine why the driver did not stop.

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Shanna Lesch was taking her daughter to daycare when the chase reached its final moments.

She said she was waiting in the intersection of O’Connor and Nacogdoches roads when she heard sirens approaching.

“I was actually in the middle of the turn,” she said. “I slowed down to try to figure out what direction they were coming from, and then I saw the truck basically coming in my direction and I slammed on my brakes and tried to back up as much as I could.”

Lesch said she doesn’t see the need for these types of pursuits, and that she could have easily been hit by the driver.

“Everbody’s going to work. It was a crowded intersection and they’re chasing this guy high-speed through the intersection and it’s dangerous,” she said. “It’s a wonder he didn’t kill somebody, but I think it’s extremely dangerous for the cops to be chasing people like this through crowded intersection at high speeds.”

Matthew Anderson, 18, also had a close call with the truck earlier in the chase.

Anderson said he was near Rittiman Road and Gibbs Sprawl when the truck flew by, almost striking his car.

“I was scared,” he said. “One of the guys ... was wearing a cowboy hat and holding a gun up in the window.”

Anderson also said that the driver came close to hitting construction workers in the area.

Keith said the Sheriff’s Office chase policy allows deputies to pursue vehicles if they determine there is cause, but BCSO supervisors are authorized to call off chases.

“Whenever they determine that the pursuit may be getting into a dangerous situation, they are going to call it off,” he said. “In this situation, we called for air assistance from the Department of Public Safety. They provided a helicopter (which was calling the pursuit). That allowed our deputies to back off, and it also kind of creates a situation where that driver who is fleeing may not be aware that they are still being pursued.”

Keith said the incident is still under investigation, and more information will be available as investigators gather details.

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Twitter: @MDWilsonSA