High speed chase ends in explosion, one suspect dead

SARALAND, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile police said a stolen truck driven by two suspects tumbled off the road, crashed into a gas station and ignited the pumps!

One of the suspects later died from his injuries.

It happened Tuesday, Jan. 8 at a Saraland gas station off Highway 43.

Police said the whole saga started after a carjacking took place in Mobile.

Witnesses said as the flames shot up from the gas station; it was a very scary scene.

Cell phone video shot by a witness showed plumes of smoke and bursts of flames emerging from the Gas-n-go on Highway 43.

In the aftermath, crews had to sort through a charred and mangled mess with a green pickup flipped upside down.

This story all began at around 1:30 p.m. along Laurel Drive. Mobile police said three suspects stole two trucks from people working on a house.

A witness there said, "[The suspects were] holding a conversation with the man. Then all of a sudden, they said, ‘We want those trucks.’”

Officers later spotted one of the trucks and started chasing it at a high speed as it drove into Saraland.

Witness Trevor Grantham said, "This guy was coming by us at least 120 mph.”

Officers said the suspect lost control of the truck.

Another witness Thomas Cobb, said, "[The car] started skiddin’ across the highway, waving back and forth."

Grantham said, "His truck started flippin’.  (It) went right into that gas station."

Cobb said, "The gas pumps went into flames and it just got bigger and bigger."

Crews quickly extinguished the fire.

Two suspects were inside the truck, they were both taken to the hospital, and one later died from his injuries.

No names have been released at this time.

Another man at the gas station was treated for minor injuries.

This high speed chase took place in the daytime along a busy thoroughfare, but police say it was justified.

Mobile police spokesman Officer Chris Levy said, “We had a violent felony that had occurred in Laurel [Drive], and it was very, very close to where a violent felony had occurred the previous day. So we have someone who is clearly willing to, while armed with a gun, go out and commit acts of violence. So we felt it important that we apprehend him."

Police said two trucks were stolen at Laurel Drive. One truck is still missing, and a suspect is on the loose.