LSP: Police chase ends in Baton Rouge crash killing 2

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A police chase from St. Gabriel ended in a fatal crash Wednesday evening on Bluebonnet Boulevard near Nicholson Drive in Baton Rouge.

According to officials, emergency crews were dispatched around 7 p.m. One vehicle was engulfed in flames, while another required extrication.

Louisiana State Police confirmed that two people were killed. The victims have been identified as Jeremiah Downing, 24, and Hunter LaGrange, 22, both of Hahnville.

According to troopers, a chase started after St. Gabriel police officers initiated a traffic stop on a car driven by Downing for speeding on LA 30. Downing reportedly refused to stop and kept traveling west on LA 30 at high speeds. Investigators said Downing drove through an intersection with a red light and collided with another car head-on.

Downing was taken to a hospital with serious injuries, where he died.

According to LSP, LaGrange, who was a passenger in Downing’s car, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the other car involved in the crash was taken to a hospital with serious injuries.

Investigators said standard toxicology samples were taken for analysis. An investigation into the crash is ongoing.

Louisiana First News has contacted the St. Gabriel Police Department for more information.

This is a developing story.

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