Police chase ends with crash in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS – A short police chase ended with a three-vehicle crash at a major Cedar Rapids intersection Monday afternoon.

A white cargo van collided with a pickup and a semi-trailer truck around 12:15 p.m. at the corner of Sixth Street and Wilson Avenue SW. The intersection remained completely blocked at 1:45 p.m, and detours were in place.

Officer Melissa Henderson, a police spokeswoman, said an officer tried to make a traffic stop on the van, but the driver would not pull over. The van was eastbound when it broadsided a southbound pickup, according to the pickup driver, who declined to give his name. A northbound semi also sustained damage in the crash.

The driver of the van was the only person hurt in the crash and “may have life-threatening injuries,” according to Henderson. He was taken to a local hospital.

Holly Collins, 23, of Cedar Rapids, said she was walking back to her car in the parking lot of the Road Ranger gas station when she heard sirens and then witnessed the crash. She quickly suspected it was more than a simple accident.

“When the first officer got out of his car, he drew his gun and pointed it at the van,” Collins said.

Police initially struggled to get the driver out of the van, before firefighters arrived to pry the door open.

Dale Smith, 50, said he heard the crash over the sound of his lawnmower from his house two blocks away.

“I heard the screech, real loud and then bang,” Smith said.

An accident reconstructionist was called to the scene. Police were continuing to investigate.