The driver of a vehicle being chased by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol is dead following a traffic stop attempt was made and the chased vehicle crashed into a Perry Publishing & Broadcasting building early Friday morning.
The pursuit occurred at about 1:45 a.m., a spokesman for the OKHP said.
The chase began near Interstate 35 and NE 23rd Street after highway patrol stopped the vehicle for a traffic violation.
The driver of the vehicle was dead at the scene and the passenger was taken to a hospital.
After state troopers tried stopping the two suspects, they sped off.
The highway patrol spokesman said the suspects did not get very far before crashing into the Perry Building, which is at NE 23rd and Prospect Avenue.
The suspects were traveling in a pickup truck.
The dead driver of the truck was identified as Waymond Swanegan.
Neither of the suspects had warrants, the spokesman said, but drugs were found in the vehicle.
“The truck turned the corner here at 23rd and Prospect and because of the high rate of speed turning the corner, struck the Perry building, making for a pretty serious crash,” Trooper Eric Foster said.
The highway patrol is investigating why the two suspects fled, he said.
