2 hit and killed while running across Southwest Freeway following police chase, crash: HPD

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Two people were hit and killed after running across the I-69 Southwest Freeway during a chase that ended in a crash on Thursday night, according to the Houston Police Department.

Police said the incident began when they received a shoplifting call in the Galleria area on Westheimer. Following that call, they said they located the car and attempted to stop it before the suspects fled.

During the chase, the suspects got into a minor crash on I-69 before two of the four suspects got out of the car and ran, according to HPD.

"They made it all across the northbound lanes of the freeway. As they started crossing the southbound lanes, two of the occupants were struck by oncoming traffic and, unfortunately, those two females were pronounced deceased at the scene and the other two were detained shortly thereafter and are now in police custody," HPD Assistant Chief James Bryant said.

The incident is in the early stages of the investigation, according to Bryant.

Some suspects had been identified, and the ages of some of the people involved were unknown at the time ABC13 spoke with investigators.