Police: Man Killed When Suspects Tried To Flee Police

[Resident Smart Ass]

Police: Man Killed When Suspects Tried To Flee Police

POSTED: 3:09 pm EDT September 22, 2006
UPDATED: 9:21 am EDT September 23, 2006

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Three men trying to escape police caused a crash that killed an innocent driver Friday afternoon, police said.

According to authorities, the three men were trying to break into an automated teller machine in the Kimmerly Glen Shopping Center on North Sharon Amity Road around 2 p.m. They put a towel over the ATM camera, but an alert bystander called 911.

When a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer arrived at the scene, the men tried to flee, police said.

The suspects tried to back their yellow Dodge Caravan out of the parking lot and failed to yield to any traffic on Sharon Amity, officers said. The van struck a white Chevy truck, causing it to flip.

The driver of that truck died in the crash.

Another van was also hit during the wreck. That vehicle's driver was transported to the hospital with minor injuries.

Police said officers were not in pursuit when the crash occurred, but after the impact the suspects jumped out of their van and tried to run. Police chased them down with the help of canine units.

Two of the men are in custody. A third man is still on the loose.

Investigators are still trying to determine if the suspects were actually trying to break into the ATM or fraudulently use an ATM card.

Police say the driver of the van could be charged with felony death by vehicle if they decide the crash happened during a crime.

[Ducky]

Isn't fleeing from the police automatically a crime?