Carjack suspect killed in crash with semi-truck during pursuit

Multiple vehicles, two guns stolen

A suspect who allegedly stole multiple vehicles at gunpoint and fired shots at a state trooper during a multi-agency police pursuit died Wednesday in a crash with a semi-truck.

According to Yuma police, the incident started at approximately 7:45 a.m. when deputies from the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office took a report for the theft of a water truck and two firearms in the area of Araby Road and County 9 ½ Street.

Then at about 9:12 a.m. Yuma police responded to an attempted carjacking in the 3200 block of East 40th Street, in which a man threatened a 45-year-old woman with a gun and tried to take her vehicle.

“The vehicle would not start and the suspect then fled in the large water truck,” YPD Sgt. Lori Franklin said.

There were no reported injuries in the incident.

From there, the suspect went to AWC where, armed with a weapon, he stole a purple Acura from a 51-year-old faculty member in the Kino parking lot around 10 a.m.

He then fled the scene, leaving the water truck behind. There were no reported injuries.

A short time later, at approximately 10:41 a.m. Yuma police spotted the stolen purple Acura in the area of 16th Street and Pacific Avenue. Officers lost the vehicle in the area of 24th Street and Kennedy Lane.

Somerton police began pursuing the purple Acura northbound on Avenue 3E at 3:57 p.m. after getting a hit on a license plate reader indicating that it had been reported stolen.

“This became a multiple agency pursuit,” Franklin said.

While being pursued the purple Acura took Interstate 8 to Foothills Boulevard, turned back