One dead, another injuried in Northside car crash

The Milwaukee Police Department is investigating a fatal car crash that claimed the life of a 33-year-old female passenger.

The accident happened in the 3200 block of W. Burleigh around 2:00 on Sunday morning.

 A 2005 Pontiac Aztek was westbound on W. Burleigh when it crossed into the eastbound lanes and was struck by a 1998 Ford Escort.  The 33-year-old female passenger in the Aztek died at the scene as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.  A 34-year-old male passenger in the Aztek was taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

It is probable that one or more other occupants of the Aztek fled from the scene on foot, and detectives continue to attempt to locate those individuals and work to determine who was driving at the time of the crash.

The Ford Escort was driven by a 29-year-old Milwaukee man. The driver and three other occupants were also taken to local hospitals for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.  Detectives believe that a fifth occupant of the Escort fled after the crash and they are currently working to identify that person.

Officers saw the Aztek driving erratically without headlights in the area of 9th and Locust shortly before the crash.  The officers tried to stop the Aztek in the 2800 block of N. 17th Street, but the driver refused to pull over.  The officers pursued the Aztek for about one minute, but cancelled the pursuit in the 3000 block of N. 23rd Street.  

The officers then pulled to the side of the road and waited for a supervisor to meet them.  At about 2:14 a.m. Milwaukee Police received a call of a serious accident at 32nd and Burleigh.  Officers responded and determined that the crash involved the same vehicle that the squad had briefly pursued a short time earlier.  

Police say, witnesses, as well as video evidence, confirm that the Aztek was not being pursued at the time of the crash.