PHOENIX, AZ — Phoenix police say a burglary suspect was hit and killed after a pursuit Wednesday night.
The incident began around 8:40 p.m. when two men reportedly stole lottery tickets from a convenience store near I-10 and 35th Avenue. They fled the scene in a vehicle that was reported stolen from a nearby hotel hours earlier.
Officers found the vehicle near 39th Avenue and McDowell Road and the driver, Edgar Alejandro Loera, 22, took off when officers tried to stop it. It was involved in a minor collision with another car but continued until it crashed into a sign near 51st Avenue and McDowell Road.
The suspects fled the crashed car on foot and Loera was taken into custody soon after. However, the second suspect led police on a foot chase and tried to cross westbound lanes of traffic on the I-10. He was struck and killed by a vehicle on the freeway.
Department of Public Safety officials are working to identify the suspect who was killed.
Traffic was backed up for miles after the crash shut down the westbound lanes of I-10.
I-10 WB Closure Options: The crash is at 51st Avenue, but the 43rd Ave. on-ramps are also closed. Traffic is being diverted at 51st Avenue. Motorists can use the frontage road or surface streets to re-enter at 67th Avenue. #phxtraffic pic.twitter.com/Vf5bWQypaU
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) April 18, 2019
