Dodge City police say a police SUV that crashed into a 26-year-old woman's car while responding to a call was not using its lights or siren. 

Vanessa Guzman died in the accident early Saturday morning. Officers were dispatched to a "break-in in progress" on 28th Avenue and was heading west on Wyatt Earp when the police vehicle crashed into a Guzman's car at the intersection with Matt Down Lane.

"The officers responding to this call had received information while in route that led them to downgrade their response from lights and sirens," Dodge City police said in a release Tuesday. "At the time of the crash, the officer was still responding to the call but was not responding as an emergency vehicle under lights and sirens."

The department said it has a "very restrictive policy" regarding when officers are authorized to respond with lights and sirens due to the dangers created by driving contrary to traffic laws. 

"The call the officer was responding to is covered under that policy, but each call has many moving parts that can impact the decision to drive with lights and siren," the department said.

The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating the crash, and the Dodge City Police Department is an internal investigation into its policy.

The release says, "Our community is reeling over a recent traffic accident that claimed the life of Vanessa Guzman and injured a DCPD officer. Our heartfelt and deepest condolences go out to Ms. Guzman’s family, friends, and loved ones who have been impacted by this tragedy."

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A woman is dead after a Dodge City Police SUV crashed into her car at an intersection early Saturday morning.

An officer had been dispatched to a "break-in in progress" on 28th Ave just before 5 a.m., according to a press release the department issued late Saturday morning. The police cruiser was heading west on Wyatt Earp, and it crashed into a northbound car at the intersection with Matt Down Lane.

The police SUV hit the passenger side of the car, and the car's driver was thrown from her vehicle. The press release states officers "attempted to provide lifesaving efforts until EMS arrived," but the driver was pronounced dead at the scene. She was the only person in the car.

The woman who died has been identified as Vanessa Guzman, from Dodge City. The driver of the police SUV was in stable condition at a hospital, and the Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

A KAKE viewer sent in the above photo of the crash.

Read the full release from Dodge City Police below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – January 25, 2020

Dodge City Police Department Officer Involved in Car Accident

DODGE CITY, Kansas — On 01252020, at approximately 4:56 am, officers with the Dodge City Police Department were dispatched to a break-in in progress on 28th Ave. When officers were responding westbound on Wyatt Earp, they approached Matt Down Lane when the driver of a passenger car entered the intersection northbound. The DCPD patrol vehicle struck the passenger’s side of the vehicle. 

Vanessa Guzman, of Dodge City, was ejected from the vehicle and was the only occupant. Officers attempted to provide lifesaving efforts until EMS arrived, but Guzman was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel. The officer involved in the accident was transported to Western Plains Regional Medical Center, where he is in stable condition.

A notification has been made to Guzman’s family. The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.