Arlington Police Chase Turns Deadly
Driver dies after crashing into building.
By MELISSA NEWTON
Updated 2:28 PM CST, Wed, Jul 22, 2009
One man is dead after a police chase across Arlington took a deadly turn.
The chase began about 2 a.m. when officers tried to pull over David Ponce Jr. on Pioneer Parkway near state Highway 360 because he was driving without headlights and speeding.
Ponce lead police on a chase from east Arlington to the Fort Worth city limits, before turning around and heading north on Fielder Road. Police said a short time later that Ponce lost control of his 2000 Ford Explorer when he hit a dip, rolled and crashed into a tree on the 700 block of Fielder Road at about 2:30 a.m.
"The officers initially on the traffic radio said he was traveling over 100 miles an hour." said Arlington Police Lt. Blake Miller. Police believe the man may have been drunk.
Ponce was ejected from his vehicle and was dead when police officers finally caught up to him.
"We're not sure if he died at the scene from his injuries and was ejected, or if he had crawled out," said Lt. Miller, "when officers came up he had already passed away."
Arlington Police do have a chase policy that allows officers to pursue a suspect if they believe he is putting the community in harm's way.
The crash closed northbound Fielder Road near the accident site until about 7 a.m. Friday.
Ponce's crash was the 7th traffic fatality in Arlington this year.
First Published: Feb 6, 2009 6:06 AM CST
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