Tinicum police chase ends in fatal crash

An SUV pursued by Tinicum Township police sped through a red light in Southwest Philadelphia Sunday and crashed into a sedan, killing the car's driver and injuring a passenger, police said.

The chase began around noon after officers tried to stop a Chevrolet Tahoe in Lester on suspicion that it had been involved in a theft, Tinicum Police Superintendent Ralph L. Slatten Jr. said in a statement.

The SUV, which police later determined had been stolen, ran over spike strips laid down on Bartram Avenue and sped through a red light at Island Avenue, where it slammed into the Chrysler sedan crossing through the intersection.

The Chrysler's driver was pronounced dead at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Police did not identify him or his passenger, who was being treated at HUP.

The driver of the SUV, which had rolled on its side, tried to run away and was apprehended by a witness, police said. He and a passenger of the SUV were treated at Hahnemann University Hospital.

Philadelphia police referred questions to the Tinicum superintendent. Tinicum police declined to respond to questions.