62 Year Old Dies After High-Speed Chase

Authorities in Sioux Falls are piecing together how a high speed chase led to the death of a driver.

Around 2:30 a.m. Friday, a South Dakota Highway Patrol trooper tried to pull over 30-year-old Jason Thomas Larsen Smith of Sioux Falls, near 41st Street and Westport Avenue.

"The stop was for a driving violation.  Possible drunk driver," Sioux Falls Police Lt. Jerome Miller said.

But authorities say while driving in a red Ford Explorer, Larsen-Smith took off.

"His speed started to increase, refusing to stop for the red lights and the sirens," Miller said.

After a series of twists and turns throughout the city, the trooper followed Larsen-Smith northbound on Tea-Ellis road.

Police say Larsen-Smith blew through one last red light, and crashed into a man driving a Ford Ranger that was heading westbound on 12th Street.

Authorities say Larsen-Smith was driving as fast as 70 to 75 miles per hour during the course of the chase.

Larsen-Smith suffered non-life-threatening injuries. But the driver he hit was pronounced dead at the scene.

"The charges against Mr. Larsen-Smith are DWI 4th offense, driving while revoked, vehicular homicide, aggravated eluding," Miller said.

The pursuit only lasted about seven to eight minutes. But Sioux Falls Police say piecing together the rest of incident will take some time.