Aurora police release video of fatal car crash into traffic light pole

The Aurora Police Department released a city camera video of a fatal crash into a traffic light pole during a Monday morning police chase.

The video, published Wednesday afternoon, shows a stolen car speeding down South Peoria Street, weaving in and out of traffic, before losing control and slamming into a traffic light pole while attempting to make a left turn onto East Alameda Avenue, according to a social media post on X by the Aurora Police Department.

The driver of the sedan stolen out of Fort Collins was fleeing from police after officers attempted a traffic stop around 11:30 a.m. Monday, officials said at a news conference Monday afternoon.

Both people inside the car died upon impact with the pole.

The two dead are Sheena Fuentes, 41, and Manuel Tovar, 52, according to the post.

Fuentes had previously been arrested in October for accessory to a murder and was out on bond; Tovar, the driver, also had an extensive criminal history.

The department noted in the post that the “vast majority” of those who lead officers on a chase have a criminal history, and that 16% of police chases end in crashes.

Denver Gazette reporter Noah Festenstein contributed to this report.


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