Rochester police say one person is dead and another seriously injured after an overnight crash downtown. It happened at the corner of St. Paul Street and West Main Street. The area was closed off through the morning rush hour.
Police say the city’s Shot Spotter system registered gunfire on Dewey Avenue and an officer saw a silver Jeep heading south with no headlights. City cameras spotted the Jeep crossing the Driving Park Bridge and police found it on Joseph Avenue. Police gave chase until the suspect vehicle ran through a red light and smashed into a car crossing Main Street. The collision killed an unidentified motorist. The fleeing driver was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. The driver was traveling at high speed and ran several red lights before the crash. The deceased had to be pried out of the wrecked car.
Police say they are not releasing the identities of either party yet.
An internal investigation of the pursuit and the crash is underway and all body camera footage has been secured. Acting Police Chief David Smith says at this time he believes there were no violations of city pursuit policy. While not identifying the offending driver, he says the man was on parole and known to the police.