One man was killed and another man is fighting for his life after Garland police say the suspects lead them on a high-speed chase.
Officers say when they tried to pull the men over at Northwest Highway at Interstate 635 just before 1:30 Thursday morning, they took off. The deadly wreck happened just down the freeway at Jupiter Road.
“Why they decided to run and it’s tearing our family apart. I don’t know why,” said Lee Melrose.
Melrose is tormented wondering why his nephew, Daniel Melrose, and a friend tried to outrun Garland police.
It turned out to be a deadly decision. Melrose died in the crash.
“He wasn’t really bad, he just go out there with the wrong crowd and doing the wrong things,” said Melrose’s grandmother, Peggy Pierce.
Police said both men have criminal records. Most recently, Melrose was arrested in January for assaulting an elderly person.
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Thursday morning, officers had been trying to pull them over for a traffic violation.
Investigators said the car sped off and officers decided, with just a few other drivers on the road at the time, the chase was on.
Just a couple miles into the chase down 635, officers said the speeding car lost control, flew off the ramp at Jupiter Road, flipped end-to-end, then rolled several times. Both suspects were ejected from the car.
“I don’t think Danny would try to outrun the cops,” said Pierce.
Investigators aren’t sure which man had been behind the wheel and stepped on the gas. Melrose died at Baylor Hospital. Police said his friend, who they are not naming, is at Parkland Hospital clinging to life.
Melrose’s family says he’d been trying to turn his life around with a new job and new baby on the way.
“He got to see the ultra sound but never got to see his son,” said Melrose.
Melrose’s loved ones hope everyone learns from their painful message.
“Don’t run or do high-speed chases. It costs way more than it’s worth,” said Melrose.
NBC 5's Christina Miralla contributed to this report.
