A 29-year-old Santa Cruz woman died in a single-vehicle car crash late Thursday in Española after being briefly pursued by an Española police officer.

Roxanne M. Romero was the only occupant of a 2008 Chrysler 300 that Santa Fe Sheriff Greg Solano says left the roadway of N.M. 291— also known as El Llano Road — around 9:25 p.m. Thursday, about a mile north of Española Valley High School.

The car, which was reported stolen June 5 from Albuquerque, struck a large metal pipe intended to protect a gas meter on the side of the road, then struck the gas meter and became airborne. Once in the air, crash scene investigators report, the car collided with a goose-neck trailer parked on the side of the road.

Romero was the only person involved in the crash, which occurred after an Española city police officer drove toward the high school area to investigate reports of drag racing. When the officer arrived, according to Solano, the Chrysler Romero was driving was seen swerving, leading the officer to attempt to pull her over.

Solano says Romero then sped away at a high rate of speed. The Española police officer stopped his pursuit when Romero sped through a stop sign at Fairview Road and El Llano, but continued heading in the direction of her car and discovered the crash.

The sheriff said there is no indication Romero was involved in the drag racing.

Because there was a pursuit moments before the crash, the investigation was handed over to another department while a standard administrative investigation was launched to ensure policies were followed by the officer, according to Española police Lt. Christian Lopez.

While the New Mexico State Police usually handle crash investigations for other departments, a state officer was not immediately available Thursday night, so the Santa Fe Sheriff's Department, along with the Bureau of Indian Affairs which has jurisdiction in the area, took over the investigation.

Solano said alcohol is not suspected to be a factor, but two syringes and suspected heroin were found in the vehicle.

Romero had her driver's license suspended "at least 18 times" between 1998 and 2009, according to Solano. She also had an outstanding warrant for her arrest on charges she absconded from her probation for a previous arrest.

Police will await toxicology reports from the Office of the Medical Investigator before moving forward on the investigation.

Contact Geoff Grammer at 986-3076 or ggrammer@sfnewmexican.com.