JANESVILLE — One person is dead following a rollover crash Thursday evening in Janesville.
The incident began when a Rock County Communications Center received information about a silver, sport utility vehicle speeding about 6:40 p.m. Thursday northbound on North Oakhill Avenue near Linden Avenue.
The caller was able to provide a description and license plate of the suspect vehicle involved and patrol officer arrived in the area but was unable to locate the suspect vehicle at the time.
A patrol officer was later southbound on North Parker Drive at Blackbridge Road when they observed a silver, sport utility vehicle disregard the red traffic signal at the intersection, according to a police department news release.
The suspect vehicle accelerated southbound from Blackbridge Road weaving in and out of traffic.
At about 7:13 p.m., the officer was able to locate the suspect vehicle and attempted to initiate a traffic stop on West Memorial Drive at North Washington Street.
When the officer activated their emergency lights and sirens, the vehicle failed to stop and accelerated at a high rate of speed.
Once the officer lost sight of the vehicle, the pursuit was terminated.
Rock County Dispatch confirmed this was the same vehicle involved in the earlier traffic complaint.
Shortly after Rock County Communication Center received information about a rollover crash on South Pearl Street near West Court Street called in by a citizen.
The Janesville Police Department and Fire Department responded to the incident location and found the vehicle had struck a building and a utility pole.
Officers identified the suspect vehicle as the same vehicle involved in the prior incidents.
The driver was the only occupant and later died at the scene from injuries sustained from the crash.
At this time the Wisconsin State Patrol is assisting with the crash investigation. The name of the driver will be released by the Rock County Medical Examiner’s Office at a later date. At this time the investigation is ongoing.
