Springfield man killed in car crash after fleeing police

According to the Massachusetts State Police, officials are investigating a crash that killed a 41-year-old Springfield man.

The incident occurred shortly after 2:20 a.m. Friday when a State Police Springfield Department trooper attempted to stop a vehicle on eastbound Interstate 291 before Exit 4 in Springfield, state police said in a news release.

The 2013 Infinity G37 was pulled over after police noticed the car was “unable to maintain lane boundaries” and “crossing lane markings,” the press release said.

“Initially, the vehicle pulled to the right, signaled and appeared to stop,” Massachusetts State Police said in the statement. “However, the driver quickly accelerated away from the officer, reaching speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour.”

As the car continued to move further away from the officer, the driver attempted to exit I-291 via Exit 4 “at a high rate of speed,” the release said.

Instead of following the car as it exited the exit ramp, the officer continued onto I-291.

The driver then drove over the curb, crashed and overturned, police said.

According to state police, emergency responders pronounced the man dead at the scene from his injuries.

The entire chase from the point where the man fled the officer to the scene of the accident was estimated to have been less than a mile.

The incident remains under investigation by officers assigned to Massachusetts State Police Group B, along with officers assigned to the Hampden County State Police Detective Unit, Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section and Crime Scene Services Section, the press release said.

The Springfield Fire and EMS Department, the Springfield Police Department and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation assisted at the scene of the accident.