Post from AZVJC
(http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/showthread.php?t=20614)
RockPig wrote:It is with great sadness that I report the passing of Roger Krause aka LOWTECH.
On March 10, 2007, at 6:10 a.m., an off-duty Tucson Police Department officer was returning a marked police car to the department’s Rincon sub-station after finishing an off-duty job in the 800 block of E. Wetmore. He was stopped for a red light in the eastbound lanes of Speedway at Campbell when a silver 1996 Toyota Paseo, also heading eastbound, passed through the red light at a high rate of speed. The officer began an attempt to catch up to the Toyota to initiate a traffic stop for the violation he had observed. The driver of the Toyota continued east on Speedway, at high speed, until he was slowed by other traffic that was also eastbound on Speedway. The officer was able to get close enough to initiate a traffic stop, however the driver of the Toyota was then clear of the other traffic and began to accelerate. The officer activated the patrol car’s emergency lights and siren, but the driver of the Toyota did not stop. The officer did not initiate a pursuit of the Toyota, which continued eastbound on Speedway.
When the officer crested the rise on Speedway at Winstel, he saw that the suspect vehicle had been involved in a collision with another vehicle at Alvernon. According to witnesses, the Toyota was still traveling at high speed when it entered the Speedway/Alvernon intersection against a red light. The Toyota struck a northbound Nissan Xterra driven by Roger Krause, 58, of Tucson. Mr. Krause was pronounced dead at the scene. The 22-year-old driver of the Toyota suffered serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital. He is expected to survive.
TPD traffic detectives responded to investigate this collision. The Tucson Police Department has also convened a Board of Inquiry to investigate this incident.
No citations have been issued. Traffic investigators will determine whether alcohol or drugs were a factor on the part of the driver of the Toyota.