TPD Pursuit Involving Fatality Under Investigation

Media Release

To:           All Local Media

From:     Chief Steven D. Anderson

Date:      July 31, 2013

TPD pursuit involving fatality under investigation

At approximately 11:20PM July 30^th Tuscaloosa Police Officers responded to a 911 call regarding a burglary in progress at an apartment complex in the 500 block of Skyland Blvd East.  As officers were en route the call was changed to a robbery call.  As officers entered the parking lot they observed the suspects getting into a white SUV.  Officers attempted to stop the suspects but they fled the parking lot striking another vehicle as they did so.  Officers initiated a pursuit of the vehicle east on Skyland Blvd, the pursuit then turned south on McFarland Blvd.  Just south of Super Skate the suspect vehicle collided with a police department vehicle.  A passenger, Ronald Gilbert Hoover Jr., white male 29 years of age, was ejected from the suspect vehicle and died at the scene.  Two other occupants of the vehicle were injured and transported to DCH-Tuscaloosa where they were treated and released, a third occupant of the suspect vehicle sustained minor injuries which were treated at the scene.  A Tuscaloosa Police Officer was injured during the accident and was transported to DCH for treatment.  The Alabama Department of Public Safety was called to the scene and is investigating the accident.