CHAMPAIGN — A 23-year-old Champaign man was killed in a two-vehicle crash Tuesday evening at Springfield Avenue and Staley Road in west Champaign.
Devontae A. Turner was pronounced dead at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, at 9:14 p.m. Tuesday, according to Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup.
The accident occurred after Mr. Turner fled a traffic stop in Savoy, police said.
An autopsy was set for Friday.
Champaign police said they were called to the scene at 8:34 p.m.
Witnesses told officers the victim failed to stop at a red light and went through the intersection, where his vehicle was struck by another and his vehicle then left the road and hit a tree.
Champaign firefighters extricated him from the wreck and he was taken to a hospital, where he later died of his injuries.
Nobody was injured in the other vehicle.
Police said the incident began at 8:01 p.m. in Savoy, when the sheriff’s office was conducting traffic enforcement in the 600 block of Church Street and a deputy spotted an eastbound vehicle going 57 mph in a 35-mph zone.
The deputy initiated a traffic stop and the driver pulled into a driveway and got out the vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office.
After being told to get back in the vehicle, he fled west on Church at a high speed.
The deputy pursued the vehicle for a time but stopped due to safety concerns when it reached speeds in excess of 100 mph and was being driven without headlights on.
Using information gained from the license plate, deputies went to the home of the vehicle’s registered owner in the 3700 block of Colleen Drive, Champaign, to try to locate the driver.
The owner confirmed the driver’s identity but said he wasn’t home, the sheriff’s office said.
A deputy on patrol in the area of Staley Road and Kirby avenue then spotted the vehicle heading north on Staley at high speed.
More deputies saw it go through the red light at Springfield and hit the other vehicle, the sheriff’s office said.
The vehicle then rolled and the engine caught fire.
Deputies put out the fire, and firefighters and emergency medical technicians were called to extract the unconscious driver.
The sheriff’s office noted that prior to the accident, deputies weren’t using emergency lights or sirens and a pursuit hadn’t been initiated.
The accident is being investigated by Champaign and state police.
Champaign police are asking anyone with information about this incident to call them at 217-351-4545.
Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Champaign County Crime Stoppers at 217-373-8477, 373tips.com or via the free “P3 Tips” mobile app.
