x
Breaking News
More () »

43-second police pursuit ends in fatal crash in DC

The driver, identified as 28-year-old Isiah Smith, was ejected from his car in the crash and died from his injuries.

WASHINGTON — A man is dead after he crashed his car during a pursuit with police in Prince George's County and D.C. Sunday night.

The crash happened at Michigan Avenue and Bunker Hill Road in Northeast D.C. The driver had fled an attempted traffic stop in Hyattsville, according to the Prince George's County Police Department (PGPD).

A PGPD officer first spotted the driver of a silver Acura driving erratically around 11 p.m. Sunday night. When the officer tried to pull the Acura over, the driver initially stopped, but when the officer approached the car on foot, the driver sped off, according to police.

The PGPD officer pursued the fleeing car and broadcasted the vehicles tags over the radio but less than a minute after the pursuit started, the driver crashed.

According to a preliminary investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the Acura was traveling westbound in the 1600 block of Michigan Avenue, Northeast when the driver lost control. The vehicle crossed the center lane, went over a curb and hit a tree. The vehicle then continued across the park and hit another tree. 

The impact caused the driver to be ejected from the vehicle, according to police. The driver was pronounced dead on the scene of the crash.

The Acura driver was identified by police as 28-year-old Isiah Smith of Southeast D.C.

RELATED: Police search for driver following deadly hit and run

RELATED: 'This lawlessness in Silver Spring has to stop' | Montgomery Co. leaders vow to crack down on car rallies with reckless driving

WUSA9 is now on Roku and Amazon Fire TVs. Download the apps today for live newscasts and video on demand.

Download the WUSA9 app to get breaking news, weather and important stories at your fingertips.

Sign up for the Get Up DC newsletter: Your forecast. Your commute. Your news.
Sign up for the Capitol Breach email newsletter, delivering the latest breaking news and a roundup of the investigation into the Capitol Riots on January 6, 2021.

Before You Leave, Check This Out