Authorities: 2 Dead In SW Miami-Dade Crash As Driver Attempted To Flee From Police

MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Miami-Dade police say a man and a woman are dead in a crash involving a white Lexus that was fleeing from police.

Police identified the woman as Amy Whitelock, 43, and a 23-year-old man as Tyrese Grace, who was in the Lexus.

Both were transported to Jackson South Medical Center where they succumbed to their injuries.

Whitelock had been in a Chevy Trailblazer.

On the scene, Miami-Dade Police detective Alvaro Zabaleta said, "That is somebody's relative. Right now as we are speaking we have people sitting in their homes mourning the loss of a loved one that had nothing to do with this. Our hearts and heartfelt condolences go to the families because we don't want anybody to lose their lives."

An emotional friend of the Whitelock who came to the site said she did not want to go on camera but she told CBS4's Peter D'Oench that "She was a good caring person," who was also a mother.

Zabaleta said it all started just before 6 p.m. on Thursday when a marked police vehicle tried to make a traffic stop with the White Lexus on US 1 at S.W. 172nd St. It is not clear why the attempted traffic stop was made. Police said that is under investigation.

Zabaleta said the Lexus fled northbound. It is not clear how far police pursued it.

"The vehicle at that point decided to flee northbound on U.S. One and the officer loses site of the vehicle. It hits the Chevy Trailblazer that is going southbound and is turning left or eastbound at S.W. 152nd Street," he said.

"That is when the white Lexus T-Bones the Trailblazer. It is unfortunate that the driver of the Trailblazer was transported to the hospital and succumbed to her injuries. And one of the occupants of the white Lexus also succumbed at the hospital to his injuries. It is not known if he was the driver of a passenger."

Cell phone video from the scene captured the wreckage of the Lexus and the Trailblazer.

Zabaleta said, "This is a very tragic incident and we hope to learn something from these tragedies. Whenever you are driving a vehicle that is a great responsibility and the vehicle can weigh thousands of pounds. So what we learn from this is that speed kills. Wear your seat belts. We have to obey the traffic laws and traffic signals to make sure that everyone is safe. In this particular case, it is clear that one of the two people was not being responsible."

Zabaleta said, "We urge the community and we urge everyone who is behind a wheel to take driving seriously because unfortunately speed kills and we all have to be very responsible. We urge the community that if you are driving a vehicle to focus on what you are doing. Obey the traffic laws so that everybody around you is safe."

The three surviving men in the Lexus were taken to nearby Jackson South Medical Center. Detectives will have to question them and charges at this point are pending.

Witnesses who can help police with their investigation are urged to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).