WELD COUNTY, Colo. — The Weld County Coroner has identified two Northern Colorado men who died following a high-speed pursuit that ended in a violent crash early Tuesday morning. The crash occurred after deputies attempted to stop a vehicle in Loveland, leading to a chase that spanned multiple roadways before ending in Weld County.
According to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO), a deputy spotted a vehicle without a license plate around 4:15 a.m. near East 57th Street and North Garfield Avenue in Loveland. When the deputy attempted to turn around to initiate a traffic stop, authorities said the driver shut off the vehicle’s lights and sped away, prompting a pursuit.
Deputies reported that the vehicle led law enforcement on a high-speed chase, reaching speeds of up to 120 miles per hour as it traveled northbound on Interstate 25. The vehicle eventually exited the highway at Mountain Vista, made several turns, and continued eastbound on Weld County Road 84, according to investigators.
Authorities said the driver lost control of the vehicle near the intersection of County Road 84 and Pheasant Crest Drive. The car struck a power pole and rolled multiple times. During the crash, two occupants were ejected from the vehicle, deputies said. One man was pronounced dead at the scene, while the second was transported to an area hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
The Weld County Coroner later identified the victims as Jose Meza, 23, and X-avier Cruz, 19, both residents of Loveland. A third occupant, a woman who was also inside the vehicle at the time of the crash, was taken to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries. Her condition has not been released.
Deputies emphasized that they did not make contact with the vehicle and did not use any intervention techniques prior to the crash. The incident remains under investigation as authorities review the pursuit and the events leading up to the deadly collision. Officials have not released information about who was driving the vehicle or why the driver fled. Additional details are expected as the investigation continues.
