State Police have identified the driver who fled an early-morning traffic stop in Roanoke City, then crashed into a pole and died. Troopers say officers spotted 23-year-old Rashele Lee of Roanoke running a red light around Orange and Gainsboro, and after a traffic stop had begun, Lee sped away. She crashed into the light pole on Moorman Avenue; her car overturned several times and ejected her.
STATE POLICE UPDATE: Virginia State Police, at the request of the Roanoke City Police Department, is investigating a fatal crash during which the Roanoke City Police units were in pursuit of a vehicle which refused to stop for a traffic violation. The crash occurred shortly after 12:15 a.m. on Friday morning, (May 17), when a Roanoke City officers observed a white Chevrolet Impala run a traffic light in the area of Orange Avenue and Gainesboro Road, NW. The officers conducted a traffic stop, and as officers approached the Chevrolet on foot the vehicle sped away. The pursuit of the suspect vehicle followed, when the suspect vehicle struck a light pole in the 900 block of Moorman Avenue, NW, and overturned several times; ejecting the driver.The driver of the Chevrolet was identified as Rashele Monique Lee, 23, of Roanoke, Va. Lee was not wearing her seatbelt and died at the scene. No officers were injured. The Virginia State Police Crash Investigation Team was called to assist. The crash remains under investigation.
PREVIOUS FROM ROANOKE CITY POLICE: On May 17, 2019 at around 12:15 am, Roanoke Police were in the area of Orange Avenue and Gainsboro Road NW when they observed a vehicle disregard a traffic light. The officer then conducted a traffic stop. As the officer approached the car, the vehicle fled the scene of the traffic stop. Roanoke Police initiated a pursuit of the vehicle. During the pursuit, the vehicle crashed into a pole in the 900 block of Moorman Avenue NW. The driver of the vehicle, an adult female, was pronounced deceased on scene by Roanoke Fire-EMS. Per department policy, this crash will be investigated by Virginia State Police.
