TOPEKA – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatality crash that occurred early Monday morning involving a reported stolen vehicle and have identified the victim as 20-year-old Ricardo J. Rodriguez of Topeka.
Just after 4:15 a.m., officers responded to the 300 block of SE Lawrence Street on a report of an aggravated robbery, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen.
The victim stated that two unknown men stole their vehicle, described as a black Kia. During the robbery, one of the suspects reportedly displayed a handgun.
At around 5:20 a.m. an officer was in the area of SE 21st Street and SE Indiana Avenue when witnessed the stolen vehicle being driven at a high rate of speed. The officer activated their lights and siren and the driver did not stop.
The officer lost sight of the vehicle and ended the attempted car stop by shutting off his vehicle’s lights and siren.
A separate officer was at the intersection of SE 21st Street and SE Adams Street when he observed the stolen vehicle being driven at a high rate of speed. A few seconds later, the officer witnessed the driver of the stolen vehicle lose control, crashing into another vehicle, described as a dark colored pickup truck.
Police were not in pursuit of the stolen vehicle at the time of the crash.
The single occupant of the pickup truck received minor injuries in the crash. They were treated at the scene and released. The driver of the stolen vehicle and one of the passengers were transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. One occupant Ricardo J. Rodriguez, 20, Topeka, was pronounced deceased at the scene by American Medical Response.
The investigation determined that Rodriguez was not involved in the aggravated robbery earlier Monday, according to Koenen.
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TOPEKA – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatality crash that occurred early Monday morning involving a reported stolen vehicle.
Just after 4:15 a.m., officers responded to the 300 block of SE Lawrence Street on a report of an aggravated robbery, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen.
The victim stated that two unknown men stole their vehicle, described as a black Kia. During the robbery, one of the suspects reportedly displayed a handgun.
At around 5:20 a.m. an officer was in the area of SE 21st Street and SE Indiana Avenue when witnessed the stolen vehicle being driven at a high rate of speed. The officer activated their lights and siren and the driver did not stop.
The officer lost sight of the vehicle and ended the attempted car stop by shutting off his vehicle’s lights and siren.
A separate officer was at the intersection of SE 21st Street and SE Adams Street when he observed the stolen vehicle being driven at a high rate of speed. A few seconds later, the officer witnessed the driver of the stolen vehicle lose control, crashing into another vehicle, described as a dark colored pickup truck.
Police were not in pursuit of the stolen vehicle at the time of the crash.
The single occupant of the pickup truck received minor injuries in the crash. They were treated at the scene and released. The driver of the stolen vehicle and one of the passengers were transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. One occupant of the stolen vehicle was pronounced deceased at the scene by American Medical Response.
The identities of the injured and deceased are being withheld until proper next of kin notifications are made.
SE 21st St. from SE Adams St. to SE Lakewood Blvd. remained closed while officers investigated.