HAZELWOOD -- One woman died and three people, including two children, were hurt Tuesday afternoon when their car crashed as it tried to elude police.

Hazelwood police said they received a report at 1:15 p.m. that someone had stolen from a store in the 7400 block of North Lindbergh Boulevard. The suspects left in a silver Monte Carlo, according to the caller.

A nearby Hazelwood police officer saw a car matching that description and tried to stop the car as it was getting on eastbound Interstate 270 at Lindbergh, police said. Instead of stopping, the car accelerated. The Hazelwood officer was told to cancel the attempted stop by a supervisor turned off his lights and siren, according to Hazelwood police.

The officer continued on and found the car had crashed into a light standard at the North Hanley Road exit from I-270.

A female passenger in the car died at the hospital about five hours after the crash. The woman's name was not immediately released.

The male driver is listed in critical condition at an area hospital. Two children in the car were taken to a hospital for observation.