Fiery Crash Involving Trooper Kills Man During Police Chase In GA

TUCKER, GA — Georgia authorities say a crash involving a state trooper killed a 19-year-old man early Monday morning in Tucker, prompting a trooper to be placed on leave.

Troopers were in the area of Kilman Drive and Bibb Boulevard responding to reports of illegal stunt driving when the crash happened, the Georgia State Patrol said Monday.

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In the overnight hours, authorities had received reports of multiple vehicles traveling between locations throughout the night, authorities said. They added the vehicles fled when troopers arrived.

A police chase then began, and the driver of a white Chrysler 300 jumped a curb in efforts to flee troopers, authorities said.

During the chase, authorities said a GSP Crime Suppression Unit K9 trooper went through the Mountain Industrial Boulevard-Hugh Howell Road intersection and crashed with a GMC pickup truck. The pickup had previously been seen participating in the stunt driving, authorities said.

Both vehicles then caught on fire, and the trooper and his K9 escaped through a window, authorities said.

The trooper immediately went to assist the occupants in the pickup truck, where Anthony Angeles was a passenger, authorities said.

Angeles was taken to a hospital, where he later died, authorities said. The 20-year-old Conyers driver of the truck suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital, authorities said.

"The Georgia State Patrol extends its condolences to the family and friends of 19-year-old Anthony Angeles. ... The loss of a young life is tragic, and we recognize the impact this has on his family, friends and everyone involved," authorities said in a news release.

The trooper involved in the crash has been placed on administrative leave while the Office of Professional Standards conducts an administrative review of GSP's response, authorities said. The trooper was not identified.

The OPS will analyze the actions of the responding troopers and determine if the proper policies and procedures were followed.

Additionally, the GSP's Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team is investigating the crash and the circumstances that led to it.

"We know there will be questions about how this happened, and we share the responsibility of making sure those questions are answered," authorities said. " ... We owe it to (Angeles') family, our troopers and the public to understand exactly what happened. We will allow these investigations to establish the facts and will share additional information as we are able. The Georgia State Patrol is committed to the transparency and accountability the people of Georgia expect and deserve."

Authorities added blocking public roads and unlawful stunt driving can endanger the "participants, other drivers, law enforcement officers and people who simply happen to be nearby. In this case, a young man lost his life."