A 41-year-old man has died in crash that began as a pursuit in Wellston, MO and ended in St. Louis City on December 8, 2025.
A preliminary investigation revealed that around 11:20 p.m. on December 8, a North County Cooperative police officer was patrolling the area of Lucas and Hunt Road & Dr. Martin Luther King Drive. The officer observed a white Ford Crown Victoria violate the red traffic light at that intersection. The Ford nearly struck the officer’s vehicle while running the light.
The officer followed the Ford and attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle; however, the driver, a 41-year-old man, fled from the officer. A pursuit was initiated, and the Ford continued east on Dr. Martin Luther King Drive at a high rate of speed into the City of St. Louis. The Ford eventually struck a raised median at Dr. Martin Luther King Drive & Clara Avenue.
The impact of the crash at Dr. Martin Luther King & Clara caused the Ford to leave the roadway and then crashed into two light posts and trees before striking a parked Jeep Cherokee occupied by five people.
The 41-year-old man driving the Ford was pronounced dead at the scene. Three people in the Jeep – a 31-year-old woman, a 36-year-old man, and a 40-year-old man – suffered minor injuries. The 31-year-old woman and 40-year-old man were transported to a hospital for further treatment.
The SLMPD Accident Reconstruction Unit is investigating the crash portion of this incident. The SLMPD Force Investigation Unit is also handling the investigation as is standard for law enforcement encounters that result in death or life-threatening injuries within the City of St. Louis. No SLMPD officers were involved in this pursuit.
The investigation remains ongoing.
