Worcester police: 2 people dead in Grafton Street crash that followed roadside run-in

WORCESTER — Two people are dead and several others injured Saturday after a motor vehicle crash on Grafton Street that followed a confrontation in the Canal District, police said.

The two people that died were among seven people in an SUV that overturned in the area of 1015 Grafton St., near Pine Hill Road.

According to police, the crash of the Toyota Highlander occurred not long after officers were called to the area of 97 Water St. about 12:15 a.m. Saturday. They learned that two men had been walking on the street when they were nearly hit by the Highlander. A confrontation followed.

“One of the pedestrians waved his arms to indicate his displeasure,” police said in a news release. “The driver of the vehicle stopped the car, opened the driver’s side door and pointed a black handgun at the pedestrian who made the gesture. The victim called 911, got into his own vehicle and followed the Toyota.”

Police said they were given the description of the Toyota and soon learned it was traveling on Grafton Street. The man who was following the vehicle told the police dispatcher that the vehicle was at Grafton and County streets, according to police.

Police said the driver of the Highlander initially complied when signaled to pull over, but that he soon sped from the traffic stop. He headed southeast on Grafton Street “at a high rate of speed,” police said.

Another officer in the area responded. He, "drove past the other officers up Grafton Street, saw taillights several hundred yards in front of him and came across a dark truck that had been in a crash in front of 1015 Grafton St.”

The Highlander had overturned in the area of the Roosevelt School.

Officers helped free the vehicle’s seven occupants, according to police. Worcester firefighters took over the rescue effort. Paramedics took six of the occupants to the hospital. A 34-year old woman was pronounced dead at the scene and the 35-year-old man driving the vehicle was pronounced dead at a hospital, according to police.

Police found a black airsoft gun designed to resemble a Glock 19 handgun in the vehicle.

Police said a second vehicle, a Dodge Ram, was struck by the Highlander in the moments before it overturned.

Police said the crash remains under investigation. The names of the deceased were not immediately released by authorities.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester police: 2 people dead in Saturday night crash on Grafton St.