Teen dead, driver critically injured in Fort Worth crash while fleeing police
A 17-year-old passenger in a car fleeing Fort Worth police was killed and the driver was critically injured after their vehicle crashed into a pole early Saturday, Jan. 3.
About 2:40 a.m., officers noticed a vehicle headed the wrong way on Exchange Avenue in the Fort Worth Stockyards. According to police, the driver ignored commands to stop, made a U-turn and sped away.
Another officer spotted the car a few minutes later and attempted a traffic stop. The driver fled again, but lost control of the vehicle and hit a utility pole near the 1500 block of East 4th Street, police said.
The passenger died at the scene, and the driver was taken to a hospital in critical condition. No officers were injured during the incident.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the passenger as 17-year-old Jesus Gonzalez and determined his death was an accident caused by blunt force injuries.
Police said more information about the crash, including possible charges for the driver, would be shared at a later time.
This story was originally published January 3, 2026 at 2:20 PM.
