St. Louis police ID metro-east man killed in crash while fleeing from officers

A Cahokia Heights man has died from injuries he suffered in a crash while fleeing police in a chase that began in Washington Park and ended in downtown St. Louis, police said Wednesday.

Shontez Campbell, 26, died Tuesday at a hospital, according to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

Campbell was critically injured in a crash about 3 a.m. Nov. 20 at the intersection of North Sixth Street and Washington Avenue in St. Louis.

"A preliminary investigation reveals officers with the Washington Park, Illinois, Police Department attempted to stop a Lincoln MKS sedan for traffic charges and suspected driving under the influence when it fled," according to a news release from St. Louis police. "Officers pursued the vehicle before officers with the Sauget, Illinois, Police Department took lead in the pursuit."

The driver of the Lincoln lost control and crashed into a traffic light and concrete structure near the Convention Center MetroLink station.

"The suspect vehicle caught on fire and officers rescued the suspect from the car," the news release stated.

The driver, later identified as Campbell, was taken to the hospital in critical condition. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

Campbell’s death is being reviewed by the Force Investigations Unit of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, which investigates "law enforcement encounters" that result in death or life-threatening injuries in the city.

The St. Louis police news release stated Campbell was from Centreville, but that city has been dissolved and the area is now known as Cahokia Heights.