Watch Pearl spokesman Greg Flynn address the media via WLBT:
UPDATE:
Pearl Police have arrested Ryan Irwin, 29, of Brandon, after a pursuit Sunday night ended up fatal.
Irwin is charged with felony fleeing resulting in death. He is being held without bond in the Rankin County Detention.
According to a press release from the city of Pearl, a police officer attempted to make a traffic stop on a 2009 Silver Infiniti near the intersection of Bierdeman Road and U.S. Hwy 80 at 6:30 p.m. Sunday. The vehicle sped westbound on Highway 80 and turned north on Highway 468/Flowood Drive. The officer continued pursuit and Flowood Police Department joined the pursuit once it reached their city limits.
Irwin continued eastbound on Flowood Drive, crossing over Airport Road. Irwin pulled the Infiniti into the parking lot behind the Academy Sports store on Flowood Drive. The Pearl officer pulled in where the vehicle had stopped, got out of his patrol car and held Irwin at gunpoint ordering him to exit the vehicle.
Authorities said Irwin did not comply, backed his vehicle up and sped back out onto Flowood Drive. Flowood officers continued the pursuit a short distance when Irwin struck a motorcycle at the intersection of Old Fannin Road and Flowood Drive.
Steven Pearson, 47, the driver of the motorcycle was seriously injured and transported to Merit Health Hospital in Flowood where he died.
After he was taken into custody, officers found Irwin was driving with a suspended license, no insurance and has felony convictions at the federal and state levels.
The Mississippi Highway Patrol is leading the investigation and reconstruction of the accident.
ORIGINAL POST:
Authorities are reporting a fatal crash after a police chase in Flowood Sunday.
The Rankin County Sheriff’s Department confirmed a chase was initiated in Pearl by Pearl police during a traffic stop. It ended at Old Fannin Road and Flowood Drive at 6:30 p.m. when the suspect vehicle struck a motorcyclist.
The man on the motorcycle was killed, authorities said.
This is a developing story.
