SAN ANGELO, Texas — The San Angelo Police Department provided additional information about the Thursday morning hit-and-run crash that killed two people.
According to an SAPD press release, a traffic officer was conducting traffic enforcement near the 1300 block of South Bryant Boulevard and saw a gray Chevrolet Equinox traveling southbound exceeding speeds of 10 miles per hour above the posted speed.
The officer attempted to catch up to the Equinox to conduct a traffic stop, however the vehicle accelerated, ran past a red light at Avenue N and crashed into another vehicle. The second vehicle left the scene.
The driver of the Equinox, a 17-year-old resident San Angelo resident, was ejected from the vehicle and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment for incapacitating injuries, according to the release.
Two of the vehicle's passengers died as a result of their injuries - a 16-year-old male was pronounced dead at the scene and a 17-year-old female was later pronounced dead at Shannon Medical Center.
Justice of the Peace, J.P. McGuire responded to the investigation.
Two male passengers, ages 12 and 16 are being treated for incapacitating injuries.
Preliminary evidence at recovered at the crash scene indicated the hit-and-run vehicle was a light-colored 2001-2005 Ford Escape Sport or Sport Trac. SAPD issued a citywide Nixle Alert asking for the public to be on the lookout for the vehicle.
A citizen who received the alert saw a damaged tan-colored Explorer Trac unoccupied and abandoned on the West Loop 306 Frontage Road near Knickerbocker Road.
Officers arrived at the vehicle's location and noticed it had damage consistent with the crash. The vehicle was seized for processing.
In a follow-up investigation, the Department's Traffic Unit and Criminal Investigations found information about the suspect's identity and possible location.
The driver was later identified as Benjamin Elder, 24. Elder was found at a residence in the 2500 block of A&M Avenue.
Elder was booked into the Tom Green County Jail for accident involving death.
The investigation is ongoing and no additional information was available at the time of the release.
