A man died Thursday morning after speeding away from a traffic stop and crashing into an abandoned vehicle, according to Gwinnett police.
The crash occurred shortly before 11 a.m. on Stone Mountain Highway near West Park Place Boulevard in unincorporated Stone Mountain, agency spokeswoman Cpl. Michele Pihera said.
According to police, the incident began when officers tried to stop the driver of a black sedan for a traffic violation. He fled and crashed into an unoccupied SUV parked on the shoulder of the road, Pihera said. According to police, officers did not chase the man when he fled the traffic stop.
When police arrived at the scene of the crash, several drivers had already stopped to help the injured man, who was in medical distress.
“The driver became non-compliant as officers were trying to render aid,” Pihera said.
He was restrained and taken to the hospital, where he later died. It wasn’t immediately clear Thursday afternoon if the man’s death was related to the crash.
“Officers did not discharge their firearm or use any deadly-force weapon against the driver,” Pihera said. “At this time, it is still unclear what caused his death.”
No additional details have been released, and police are withholding the man’s name until his family has been notified. An autopsy will be conducted to determine an exact cause of death, police said.
A westbound lane that was blocked while police were on the scene reopened just after 2:30 p.m.
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