EVANSVILLE, Ind. — A traffic stop on Highway 41 turned deadly Tuesday afternoon, resulting in the deaths of two individuals following a crash with a semi-truck. The incident occurred at the Circle K gas station near Lynch Road and ended at the St. George Road intersection when the SUV collided with the trailer of a semi.
According to the Evansville Police Department, officers had initially stopped the vehicle as part of an investigation by the street crimes unit. While details of the investigation remain scarce, authorities stated that the individuals in the SUV were known to local police.
The driver, identified as 24-year-old Brent McKinney, and the passenger, 24-year-old Haley Crumb, both lost their lives at the scene of the crash. Officers had reportedly interacted with the driver before the vehicle fled the scene. Sgt. Anthony Aussieker of the Evansville Police Department explained that officers gave commands for the driver to exit the vehicle, but McKinney did not comply and fled the gas station, triggering a response from law enforcement.
However, Sgt. Aussieker emphasized that the police never engaged in a pursuit, and no high-speed chase occurred. “Once officers moved out onto Highway 41, they disengaged their lights and sirens,” he said. A video of the incident shows one officer following the SUV at a safe speed, merely attempting to determine the vehicle’s direction of travel.
The SUV eventually collided with the semi as it was turning onto St. George Road, with the impact leading to the tragic deaths of McKinney and Crumb. While police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the stop and the crash, further details regarding the nature of McKinney and Crumb’s connection to the officers or the investigation remain unclear.
At this time, authorities have not disclosed any additional information on the investigation or the specific reasons behind the initial traffic stop. The Evansville Police Department has urged the public to await further updates as the investigation into the incident continues.
