Lyft driver, passenger killed in crash by vehicle running red light trying to escape police

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC/Gray News) - A Lyft driver and his passenger were killed Thursday in Georgia when a vehicle ran a red light and hit their car during a police chase.

Authorities said the pursuit started that night after deputies initiated a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Trailblazer, but the driver refused to stop and accelerated.

The driver then ran a red light at a nearby intersection and slammed into a Nissan Juke, Georgia State Patrol said. The driver and passenger of the Nissan were ejected and pronounced dead at the scene.

Loved ones identified the Nissan driver as Habibullah Azizi, an Afghan immigrant who came to America a few years ago.

“It’s pretty hard coming out of Afghanistan to make your life much better working in America, support your family back in Afghanistan,” Ejaz Ahmadi, a friend of Azizi, said. “I feel it because he was the only breadwinner for his family.”

Ahmadi said that Azizi’s family in Afghanistan was hopeful he would bring about change in their lives.

“His family back in Afghanistan was so happy that at least one of his family members made it to America,” Ahmadi said. “And he would bring change.”

Ahmadi’s friends said they began searching for him after his mother called to ask about his whereabouts, and that’s when police told them about what happened.

“Cops told us that there was a chase scene,” Ahmadi said. “And he was driving for Lyft. Unfortunately, he was hit in the chase along with the customer.”

According to the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, its pursuit policy allows police to initiate a high-speed chase if the suspect is escaping from an alleged felony crime and/or if the suspect would be a danger to the public if not caught.

Loved ones have started a GoFundMe to help send Azizi home so his family can say their final goodbyes.

Georgia authorities said the Trailblazer’s driver and two passengers were arrested following the crash. The driver was facing several charges and one of the passengers had felony warrants.