ATLANTA — A busy midtown Atlanta intersection is shut down after a deadly fiery crash this morning.
The crash happened at the intersection of Juniper Street and 11th Street.
Atlanta police told Channel 2′s Tyisha Fernandes that a Jaguar SUV was stolen from the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta around 9:45 a.m. When a responding officer arrived, police said the SUV reversed and rammed the officer’s cruiser.
Witnesses said they saw police chase the stolen SUV the wrong way on Juniper but police dispute those reports.
“We saw the car go by, knew it was going the wrong direction, going too fast and there were police chasing it,” neighbor Timothy Gendreau said.
Atlanta fire told Channel 2 Action News that the SUV lost control and hit a pole and burst into flames.
Many people who live and work in this part of town saw the smoke and heard the loud explosion from the crash.
“The car hydroplaned, hit the pole and if I stepped out any further I would have been hit too,” witness Jessie Gholstein said.
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The female driver and the male passenger inside were severely burned in the crash and fire.
“The young man he rolled out jumped out he was on fire from head to toe,” Gholstein said.
Atlanta police is currently on a no-chase policy, so Fernandes asked the department why officers were seen by witnesses chasing the suspects.
“That part is still under investigation. Once we review all bodycam footage and footage in the area, we will be able to make that determination,” said Capt. Antonio Clay with the Atlanta Police Department.
The woman was later pronounced dead at the scene. The man was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital where he remains in critical condition. Their identities have not been released.
Power was knocked out to some people in the area.
Atlanta police said they are investigating the stolen car portion of the case and the Georgia State Patrol is handling the crash part of the case.