Two dead after Northwood police pursuit ends in crash

4/13/2018

Two people are dead after a police chase ended in a crash in Northwood Friday morning.

THE BLADE/ALLISON DUNN
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An Oregon man and woman are dead after a Friday morning police chase ended in a crash in Northwood, said Northwood Police Capt. Jeff Zahradnik. 

The crash occurred at the entrance of Menards on Lemoyne and Curtice roads, near the I-280 entrance.

The vehicle nearly veered into the officer’s lane on Wales Road just off Woodville Road, and came close to striking the officer’s vehicle head-on, Captain Zahradnik said. 

WATCH: Vehicle crashes after police pursuit in Northwood

The officer turned around and followed the car, driven by William Burgess, 51, catching up to it near Lemoyne Road where he turned on his lights and sirens just before 6 a.m., Captain Zahradnik said. 

The vehicle traveled onto the road leading to Menards, 3100 Brown Road, where it struck a curb and flipped, the captain said. The car came to rest against a tree. 

Mr. Burgess and Kimberly Snavely, 50, were trapped inside of the car, Captain Zahradnik said. They were both pronounced dead at the scene.

“It’s unknown why they were fleeing or if they even saw the officer behind them,” he said. 

Captain Zahradnik said Northwood police are reviewing the incident. He commended the officer for his professionalism. 

“He’s obviously shaken up right now,” the captain said. “Every stop is different. Every stop is an unknown stop, you never know what’s going to happen, for sure.”

Northwood Fire, Oregon Fire and State Highway Patrol responded to the scene.

Contact Allison Dunn at adunn@theblade.com, 419-724-6506 or on Twitter @AllisonDBlade.