A 31-year-old man was killed after a July 17 traffic stop by Tuscaloosa police resulted in a pursuit by officers that ended in a crash.
Jaylen Reed of Aliceville died in the wreck, said Capt. Jack Kennedy of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit.
At around 7 p.m., a Tuscaloosa police patrol unit attempted to stop a vehicle for several traffic violations on Cousette Street near its overpass with Interstate 359.
Kennedy said the vehicle immediately fled at a high rate of speed. The vehicle crossed through several intersections, left the roadway and struck a ditch and culvert near Tamko Building Products. The vehicle sustained extreme damage, he said.
The driver, later identified as Reed, was injured and unresponsive. Medical aid was rendered, and Reed was taken to DCH Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead, Kennedy said.
Reed was the lone occupant of the vehicle. No other vehicles were struck or involved in the crash.
Since the wreck occurred during a Tuscaloosa Police Department pursuit, the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit was called to handle the investigation.
Investigators and supervisors not affiliated with TPD will conduct an investigation, with the assistance of the Northport Police Department Traffic Homicide Unit.
Multiple witnesses were interviewed, and several sources of video were obtained, according to Kennedy. The time from the patrol unit activating its lights to initiate the stop until the crash was less than 30 seconds, he said. The driver was later found to have multiple active felony warrants.
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