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Chad Nicholson

Age : 16

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 08/28/2024

Location : East 6th Street and East Grand Avenue

City : Des Moines

County : Polk

State : Iowa

Agency : Iowa State Patrol

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Juvenile passenger killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 08/28/2024, at approximately 12:40 a.m., Chad Nicholson, 16, was killed when the stolen Hyundai Elantra in which he was a passenger crashed into another vehicle at East 6th Street and East Grand Avenue in downtown Des Moines while Iowa State Patrol troopers were pursuing it. Four other people were injured.
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The pursuit began after an Iowa State Patrol trooper attempted to stop the Hyundai because it had been reported stolen. The driver continued driving away while troopers pursued through Des Moines.
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During the pursuit, the Hyundai traveled west on East Grand Avenue toward the East Village. At East 6th Street, it collided with a northbound Chevrolet Malibu. The impact severely damaged both vehicles and brought the pursuit to an end.
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Nicholson was a passenger in the Hyundai and was pronounced dead after the collision. Three other people in the Hyundai were transported to hospitals with injuries. The driver of the Chevrolet Malibu was also hospitalized.
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The driver of the Malibu, Adan Farhan, later described seeing the Hyundai approaching at high speed immediately before it struck his car. Farhan suffered a fractured vertebra and other injuries. He said the crash left him unable to work while he recovered.
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Nicholson was a junior at East High School in Des Moines. Friends and family described him as energetic, funny and outgoing, with an interest in football and music. He played defensive back and wide receiver for the East High Scarlets football team.
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A fundraiser was established to assist Nicholson's family following his death.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND
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The Iowa State Patrol did not publicly identify the trooper or troopers who pursued the stolen Hyundai before the crash that killed Nicholson.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.kcci.com/article/one-dead-from-des-moines-crash/61992088
https://www.weareiowa.com/article/traffic/one-dead-four-others-taken-to-the-hospital-after-crash-in-downtown-des-moines/524-dd86f22a-b0e7-47e5-bf0b-4b91134c6722
https://who13.com/news/authorities-release-name-of-teen-killed-in-downtown-des-moines-crash/
https://www.kcci.com/article/chad-nicholson-iowa-crash-family-friends-remember-des-moines-east-student/62021248
https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/local/stolen-car-driver-struck-healing-from-injuries-des-moines-wednesday-morning-crash-iowa-state-patrol-downtown-des-moines/524-96b31bd1-2500-4e93-9332-b46cca1ee81e
GoFundMe:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-chads-family-in-their-time-of-loss