'It was horrible' | DC Neighbors say Southern Avenue is prone to speeding and car wrecks, but nothing as bad as fiery crash

WASHINGTON — Editor's Note: Cellphone footage used in the video above may be considered disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.

WUSA9 continues to follow a Maryland police chase that ended in a fiery crash in D.C. that left two people dead. 

Anne Arundel County Police say they were chasing the car because it was linked to a series of armed robberies.

Many neighbors along Southern Avenue, SE say speeding and crashes are not unusual, but what occurred Tuesday afternoon they described as traumatic. DC Police said the silver BMW was traveling at such a high rate of speed that after it hopped the curb, it slammed into a tree and split in half. A portion of the car crashed into a wrought iron fence and tore it down. 

For those traveling on a bike, car, or walking on Southern Avenue, passing by the remains of a car crash is nothing new. But this time, it is different.

Around 1 p.m. Tuesday, a police chase that started in Anne Arundel County ended in a fiery crash just over the D.C. line. The sole survivor was handcuffed and sitting on the sidewalk, while an officer rushed to extinguish intense flames from the car.

WUSA9 downloaded the audio from the Prince George’s County Emergency scanner traffic and an officer can be heard saying, “I have one here barely breathing and burned badly the other pinned under car burned badly.”

“It was horrible, just horrible,” said Brian Burch who lives nearby and witnessed the aftermath. “I heard the noise. I was in my backyard. I saw the helicopter. As soon as I came out, I saw police officers arrest the kid that survived. The officers were trying to put an extinguisher on the far to get another kid out, but it was too much fire.”

On cellphone video, you can hear an officer tell the suspect, “You just killed your *expletive* buddies,” as he drags him to the police cruiser.

Police arrested 19-year-old Demetris Kroger of Southeast and charged him as a fugitive from justice. Anne Arundel County Police claim the trio inside the car was responsible for a string of armed robberies of people at ATMs.

“I saw a Metropolitan Police Officer and told him, ‘This is only peaceful time we’re going to get because all the caution tape is up,” said Keith Jones.

Jones lives off Southern Avenue and said sadly, the crash stopped the usual speeding cars. He hopes more patrols will slow people down for good.

“I just be in fear (when I drive). I have four eyes instead of two eyes,” said Jones, “DC Police is doing a lot, I see it, but drivers race through.”

Prince George’s Police Department told WUSA9 they do not have authority over Southern Avenue but work in partnership with D.C. to do enforcement. DC police confirmed. Kroger was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. At the last check, his Wednesday afternoon court appearance was postponed until he recovers from his surgery.

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