DETROIT – Two men were killed and four others were injured Tuesday when a car carrying men believed to be involved in gang activity fled officers and smashed into a house on Detroit's east side, according to authorities.
Detroit police officers said they saw a car at Jefferson Avenue and Chalmers Street that had been wanted in connection with multiple break-ins and robberies on the east side.
Five men were inside the car, according to authorities.
When officers turned on their lights and sirens, the car smashed into an SUV at the corner of Chalmers Street and Kercheval Avenue in an attempt to escape police, according to officials.
A man from inside the SUV was taken to a nearby hospital, police said.
The fleeing car continued on Chalmers Street and crashed into a house, police said. The car ignited on impact, according to authorities.
Police tried to get all five men out of the car, but they could only rescue three, officials said. Those three men were taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition, officials said.
The two other men were killed by the fire that ignited in the car, authorities said.
The fire spread to the basement of the home, forcing Detroit firefighters to respond and put out the flames, officials said.
A woman was home at the time of the crash and had to be helped outside, police said. She is expected to be OK.
Detroit police officers believe the men inside the car were connected to gang activity. There were at least 12 cruisers from the DPD gang squad at the scene to investigate.