AWOL military member dies in crash after chase

BIXBY, Okla. (AP) – Authorities in Bixby say a service member who was absent without leave was killed in a traffic crash after a chase with police.

The death occurred Thursday afternoon when the man, who was driving between 75 mph and 85 mph crashed into a dump truck and his vehicle caught fire.

Oklahoma City television station KWTV reports the father of the 19-year-old victim called police to report his son was AWOL from the Air Force and believed him to be suicidal.

Police said the man appeared to have intentionally crashed into the dump truck. Officers say family members were quickly on the scene.

The man’s name wasn’t released.