INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — Two people are dead after police say they were hit by a person driving a stolen Jeep during a police pursuit Wednesday night. 

Around 10:40 p.m. an Independence police officer located a stolen Jeep Cherokee near E. 29th Street and Santa Fe Road. Once the driver noticed police in the area they quickly drove off,  swerving at oncoming vehicles, including a police vehicle.

Around 10:52 p.m. the Jeep was traveling south on Scott Avenue when it collided with a motorcyclist and their passenger who were traveling east on Winner Road. 

Emergency crews pronounced the motorcyclist dead at the scene. The passenger was taken to an area hospital and later died as a result of their injuries. 

The two victims have not been identified at this time.

The suspect continued driving the wrong way on several roadways, including I-70. To avoid another crash, an officer used a technique with his police vehicle to stop the Jeep. The driver was taken into custody with minor injuries.

Two women related to one of the victims came to the scene earlier Thursday complaining that chases like these are dangerous and their loved one shouldn’t have been killed.

This is a developing story that will be updated as more information becomes available.