Two people were killed and two were injured early this morning when a suspect fleeing at high speed from a Mesa County deputy collided with pickup.
The fleeing driver, identified as 20-year-old Derrick Maxfield, is under suspicion of vehicular homicide, said Kate Porras, Grand Junction police spokeswoman. He was arrested after his release from being treated for unspecified injuries after the 1 a.m. accident on northbound 5th Street near North Avenue, Porras said.
Three people were in a Chevrolet pickup at the time of the accident. One was pronounced dead at the scene, one was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead, and a third person is hospitalized in serious condition, Porras said.
The suspect allegedly was speeding and driving recklessly down 5th Street when a deputy spotted the car and tried to make a traffic stop. The suspect sped away but the deputy did not give chase, Porras said.
The suspect continued speeding north on 5th Avenue until he slammed into the passenger’s side of the white Chevrolet pickup, she said.
“Both vehicles are heavily damaged,” Porras said. “The impact was severe.”
The 24th Judicial District Critical Incident team involving investigators from the Grand Junction Police Department, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office and the Colorado State Patrol will investigate the crash because of the involvement of the deputy, she said.
The identities of the suspect and the victims have not been released pending notification of family members, Porras said.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
