City of Columbia Missouri Police Department

600 E. Walnut Street
Columbia, MO 65201

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 6, 2019

CONTACT: Jeff Pitts
Community Relations Specialist/Public Information Officer
Columbia Police Department
City of Columbia
573.817.5049
[email protected]

Columbia Police engage in a vehicle pursuit on Friday, Dec. 6

(COLUMBIA, MO) - On Friday, Dec. 6, at approximately 1:50 a.m., an officer with the Columbia Police Department attempted to initiate a traffic stop in the area of 9th Street and Cherry Street after the officer observed a Volkswagen Beetle (VW) proceed through a red light without properly yielding. When the officer activated his emergency equipment and attempted to stop the vehicle, it fled and the officer lost sight when it entered the University of Missouri Hitt Street Parking Structure via the Locust Street entrance. The officer then observed the VW exiting the garage and noted it had struck a parked vehicle. The VW failed to yield to another vehicle at a four-way stop at Hitt Street and University Avenue. The officer again activated his emergency equipment and attempted to stop the VW, which fled at a high rate of speed going northbound on 9th Street. The officer terminated the pursuit at 9th and Walnut as the VW was no longer visible. Later it was determined that the VW struck and caused damage to a second vehicle in or around the parking structure. 

At approximately 1:56 a.m., the same vehicle was observed by another officer entering I-70 going eastbound from West Business Loop 70 (West Boulevard Interchange). The officer activated his emergency equipment in an attempt to stop the VW, however, the vehicle failed to stop and exited I-70, traveling south on Providence Road. The officer began to pursue the vehicle southbound on Providence Road. The officer observed the VW continue south on Providence Road at a high rate of speed and then cross Broadway. The officer continued southbound on Providence and near Walnut Street observed sparking from a transformer further south which the officer believes is where the VW crashed. The officer then found that the vehicle had left the west side of Providence Road just north of Locust Street and struck a utility pole.

At the request of the Columbia Police Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP), who assisted in the pursuit, conducted the crash investigation as Providence Road is a state highway (MO-163).

The crash resulted in the death of Hayden S. Holt, 17, of Hallsville. Next of kin has been notified. The MSHP crash report can be referenced at incident number 190706434.

The Columbia Police Department thanks the MSHP and University of Missouri Police Department (MUPD) for their assistance while conducting the investigation. The investigation is ongoing, therefore there is no further information to share at this time.

Anyone with additional information about this incident is asked to please contact the Columbia Police Department at 573.874.7652 or CrimeStoppers at 573.875.TIPS (8477) to remain anonymous.

CPD case number; 2019-012880


City of Columbia Vision
Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.

City of Columbia Mission
To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.

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