Irving police have released footage of a high-speed pursuit that ended when the suspect inadvertently drove off an exit ramp near I-35 and Woodall Rodgers Freeway on Thursday.
The dashcam video from the fatal police chase was made public roughly 12 hours after the pursuit began early Thursday morning. Irving police officers spotted a stolen vehicle around 2 a.m. in the 3200 block of North Beltline Road, as previously covered by The Dallas Express. They attempted a traffic stop and pursued the suspect when the driver did not comply.
The chase ended with the driver traveling southbound on the interstate at high speed, losing control of the vehicle, driving off the I-35E Woodall Rodgers ramp, and crashing near the 429A Continental Avenue exit. Morning traffic in the Downtown Dallas area was interrupted as first responders attempted to deploy aid at the crash site, but four people — all occupants of the stolen vehicle — died.
In the dashcam footage, a trail of sparks can be seen as the car rides the edge of the ramp. A large ball of fire erupts when the car makes contact with the ground below.
A statement accompanied the video released by Irving police:
“Irving PD has initiated an investigation into this matter. Due to the pending investigation, release of information will be limited moving forward. Additionally, notifications to next of kin will be made by the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office.”
The identities of those killed in the crash have not yet been made public.
Motor vehicle theft rose to meteoric heights in 2023 in Dallas, with 18,841 reports made, according to the City’s crime analytics dashboard, marking a 40.5% increase compared to the year prior. Auto thefts in 2024 are already outpacing last year’s. Sector 130, which comprises Historic Downtown and Victory Park, logged a year-over-year hike of 50% in motor vehicle thefts in January.
Downtown Dallas has become a hotspot for crime due to the Dallas Police Department struggling with a significant lack of resources. In terms of manpower, it fields just 3,000 officers, even though a City report recommended a force of around 4,000 to ensure public safety. Moreover, DPD will have a budget of just $654 million this fiscal year, with City officials opting to spend considerably less on police operations than their counterparts in other high-crime municipalities, including New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
Comparative studies between Fort Worth’s city center and Downtown Dallas have shown that crime is about seven times more likely to occur in the latter. The former has a specialized neighborhood police unit working alongside private security guards to patrol its downtown area.