Dean Walthes dies in fatal St. Louis crash

Dean Walthes dies in fatal St. Louis crash

Fatal St. Louis crash death of Dean Walthes – Obituary

A deadly crash that followed a high-speed police chase in St. Louis on Thursday afternoon has claimed the life of Dean Walthes, according to friends of the individuals involved. The incident unfolded near the intersection of Route 3 and Monsanto.

Authorities say the chase began shortly after 12:15 p.m. when Cahokia Heights police responded to reports of an armed robbery and gunfire on Cahokia Street. Officers later located a GMC truck matching the description of the suspect vehicle and attempted a traffic stop.

Instead of pulling over, the truck accelerated, and within minutes, it crashed into a tractor-trailer and caught fire. Witnesses say Dean Walthes, believed to be the truck’s owner, was behind the wheel. Another man in the vehicle, Mike Hamilton, also died in the collision.

The Cahokia Heights Police Department, Illinois State Police, and accident reconstruction experts continue to investigate. Law enforcement has confirmed they are withholding further details related to the robbery as the investigation remains active.