A late-night incident on May 20, 2026, ended in tragedy after a police response to a reported disturbance led to a fatal crash in the Northern Avenue and Van Buren Street area.
According to authorities, officers were dispatched at approximately 10:33 p.m. to the 800 block of Beulah Avenue for a reported domestic disturbance. Additional reports indicated that an individual involved in the incident left the scene in a white SUV. Officers attempted a traffic stop, but the driver fled at a high rate of speed. Police obtained the vehicle’s license plate and did not pursue, instead returning to the original call location to continue their investigation.
Shortly afterward, dispatch received reports of a serious traffic collision at the intersection of Northern Avenue and Van Buren Street. When officers arrived, they located the same white SUV involved in the earlier incident. Investigators determined that an occupant had been ejected from the vehicle during the crash and was found unconscious at the scene. Despite emergency response efforts, the individual was pronounced deceased on site. The victim has since been identified by friends and loved ones through social media as Dru “Dizzle” Mendoza.
Authorities have not yet released the identity of the driver involved, pending confirmation from the coroner’s office and notification of family members.
Tributes have begun circulating on social media as news of the crash spread, with friends, family, and community members expressing shock and sadness over the sudden loss. Many have shared memories and messages reflecting the impact Mendoza had on those around him, describing the news as difficult to comprehend.
