Reported by Kinya Cano

DECEMBER 8, 2003 - Residents in the small community of Los Ebanos were shocked when they saw the body of a teen dead on the ground.

The teen had just led police on a wild and ultimately deadly pursuit.

The police chase ended in tragedy for 19-year old Eric Ruiz, who died in the accident after fleeing from the Sullivan city police department.

Eyewitnesses like Esmeraldo Martinez were stunned.

"When I came outside it was like really bad the car was crashed over there and the person was dead."

La Joya police and Troopers with the Texas Department of Public Safety received a call Sunday night about a reckless driver reportedly throwing bottles at passing motorists.

"The subject then proceeded to Sullivan City where he was stopped by Sullivan PD. The subject then refused to get out of the vehicle," says DPS Trooper Guajardo.

Police say the driver, Eric Ruiz opened the passenger door as if to get out of his car but as the officer approached Ruiz quickly slammed his door and sped away.

And that's when the chase all started. An officer could be heard calling for help, "I'm in Los Ebanos and I need help."

Police say Ruiz took off at dangerous speeds of over 100 miles per hour. By the time officers reached him in the small town of Los Ebanos it was too late.

"He passed away. The driver passed away," says Trooper Guajardo.

"Bad, it didn't even look like a car. It was like voom. The guy was all laying down there. He was dead," remembers Esmeralda.

Ruiz had run off the road, hit a tree and wrapped the car around a telephone pole. Police says Ruiz died at the scene.

But his passenger Jose Pinon fled the accident on foot.

"One guy came out like running kind of running and they caught him in the church," remembers Esmeralda.