AURORA, Colo. — A victim was killed after his vehicle was struck by a speeding driver who was trying to evade a traffic stop Thursday afternoon, according to the Aurora Police Department.
Lieutenant Chris Amsler with APD's Traffic Investigations Unit said an APD motorcycle officer was performing speed enforcement on northbound I-225 near Yale around 2 p.m. when he spotted a white BMW going 84 mph in a 65 mph zone.
The officer pulled out to stop the BMW for speeding, but the driver — identified as 25-year-old Don Mai Phan — reportedly did not stop. Amsler said the BMW drove on the left-hand shoulder, then crossed all three lanes of traffic to exit the interstate at Iliff.
Phan was reportedly heading eastbound on Iliff when he ran a red light and struck a red Honda Civic that was making a left-hand turn from Blackhawk Street to go westbound on Iliff.
The force of the crash split the Honda Civic in half, according to Amsler. The rear end of the Civic struck a third car that was stopped in the left-hand turn lane to go southbound on Blackhawk, as well as a fourth vehicle that was stopped and waiting to go westbound on Iliff.
The motorcycle officer arrived 30 seconds after the crash and took Phan and his passenger — a 26-year-old man — into custody without incident. Amsler said the two were cooperative and were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
The driver and sole occupant of the Honda Civic — a 25-year-old man — was pronounced dead at the scene, according to APD. The Arapahoe County Coroner's Office will release his identity at a later time.
- Watch the full press conference in the video player below
Amsler said crash reconstruction investigators have finished processing the scene.
The roadway was closed in both directions for several hours but has since reopened.
Denver7 spoke with EJ Stevens, who lives near the intersection. He said he's seen many crashes at Illif & Blackhawk, but he's never seen one this bad.
"I was shocked, actually, to see the car in two pieces and the crime scene tape," Stevens said. "I've never seen that at this intersection before."
Amsler said he anticipates the driver of the BMW will face a vehicular homicide charge.
Denver7's Claire Lavezzorio contributed to this report.
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