High-speed police pursuits are often the cause of serious motor vehicle accidents. They lead to serious injury and sometimes death, for both officers and innocent bystanders. Most police jurisdictions have policies in place that determine when an officer or officers can engage in a high-speed pursuit. High-speed pursuits sometimes occur after minor traffic violations and DUI cases, but many times, the officers are in pursuit of a suspected felon. Some of the crimes that justify a high-speed police pursuit in Rochester, New York are felony assault, forcible rape, felony criminal possession or use of a weapon, leaving the scene of an accident, and robbery.
The Democrat and Chronicle report on a high-speed police chase that led to a crash.
20 Rochester Police Department cruisers, 4 Gates Police Department cars, and State Police were all involved in a chase.
The chase began around noon on Wednesday when two teenagers stole a 2013 Honda CRV from a 72-year-old woman in a strong-arm robbery.
The vehicle was spotted by officers a half an hour later on Fulton Avenue in Rochester. Officers attempted to pull the teens over, but the teens refused to stop, beginning the pursuit.
The suspects eventually began traveling westbound on Buffalo Road. When they entered the intersection at Howard Road, they struck an eastbound Toyota and came to a halt. The driver of the Toyota swerved to avoid a more serious crash.
The intersection was closed for an hour for the investigation. The pair driving the stolen vehicle was identified as the pair who robbed the 71-year-old. They were not injured.
The two suspects, who were 15, were arrested. Their names were not released because they were minors.
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