James Williamson, 66
Date of Crash: July 21, 2007

James Williamson, 66, Goshen, Alabama Police chase from Panhandle into Alabama ends in fatal crash, an excerpt from this story, right here. "He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother, and he would give you the shirt off his back," Williamson's younger sister, Judy Goode, told The Dothan Eagle for a story Sunday. "He was a wonderful person, and we can't believe this tragedy happened." Goode said she is not sure what her life will be like without her brother in it. "He was always very protective of me," she said. "I always knew I could count on him to be there. I just can�ft imagine him not being there anymore." "He was just the best brother ever, and that�fs all I can say."

Editorial: Pursuit policies need an overhaul Every law enforcement agency involved must give this tragedy a full investigation, along with a thorough review of each department�fs policies regarding pursuits. Lutz had outstanding warrants; however, the nature of those warrants should be taken into account. Police had his vehicle description and tag number, and presumably knew who he was and where he could be found.

 

 

Officer Jason Robert Eckes, 32
Date of Crash: April 19, 2005

Birmingham Officer Jason Robert Eckes, 32, Homewood, Alabama	Officer Eckes was off-duty. He was riding his bike. "He was just a guy out riding his bike," said Police Chief Annetta Nunn. The pursuit began at 10:07 p.m. when a North Precinct officer attempted to stop a pickup truck in the 1100 block of Fourth Avenue North, Police Chief Annetta Nunn said. The truck was being stopped because the area is known for drug traffic, the chief said.	News Stories University of Alabama Announcer's son arrested, click here. Grand jury to hear murder case, click here. Links to other stories, click here.

 

 

William Joyner, 53, and his wife, Annie Lou Joyner, 44,
their son, Ryan Jason Joyner, 5, Mrs. Joyner's aunt,
Mary Bannister Garms, 68, her granddaughter, Regina Lynn Foster, 16,
and family friend Patricia Kay Prudoehl, 18
Date of Crash: June 21, 1986

Rig fleeing police hits van; 5 die Patricia Prudoehl died later, becoming the sixth victim by David Corvette, Staff Writer The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution Published June 22, 1986, The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution EDITION: The Atlanta Journal ANNISTON, Ala. - A tractor-trailer driven by Elmer G. Milteer of Newyork City, who failed to stop at a weighing station, led Georgia and Alabama police on a high-speed chase before slamming into a van on Interstate 20 Saturday, killing five people and injuring two others. Four people in the van died at the scene, and a fifth — 5-year-old Jason Joyner of Bynum, Ala. — died in a helicopter en route to the University of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham. Milteer is charged with five counts of vehicular homicide, reckless driving and attempting to elude police officers, Smith said. Names of most of the victims were not immediately available, but an Alabama Department of Public Safety spokesman said police believed they were all related. The victims were believed to be from Alabama, Minnesota and Illinois, he said. The accident occurred about 10:30 a.m. CDT when the 18-wheel rig carrying packages of bubble gum crashed into the van on I-20 about five miles west of here, said Capt. E.C. Dothard of the Alabama State Patrol. After striking the van, the truck traveled another 100 feet, rolled over and burst into flames. Police pulled the driver out of the cab. The truck had been pursued to the Alabama state line by officers of the Georgia Department of Transportation weight detail after the driver refused to stop at a weigh station near Carrollton. Georgia authorities notified Alabama troopers who joined the chase at the state line and followed the truck about 30 miles into Talladega County. The chase reached speeds of about 70 mph. The truck had been traveling in the emergency lane for about three miles when it struck the van, Dothard said. "For the last three miles, he was running 70 mph on the shoulder of the road," he said. Dothard said investigators believed the driver of the van had seen the chase and either had stopped or was stopping in the emergency lane when the collision occurred. Investigators "said it was in the emergency lane, probably stopped," he said. Four people in the van died at the scene, and a fifth - 5-year-old Jason Joyner of Bynum, Ala. - died in a helicopter en route to the University of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham. One survivor, 20-year-old Patti Prudoehl of St. Charles, Minn., was taken to the UAB Hospital, where she was reported in critical condition late Saturday in the intensive care unit. A male survivor was taken to Regional Medical Center here, where he was listed in good condition, according to an evening supervisor. The truck driver, who "didn't even get a scratch" in the fiery collision, was taken to Talledega County Jail, a State Patrol spokesman said. He was identified as Elmer G. Milteer, 34, of 516 W. 50th St., New York City. Milteer gave investigating officers several fictitious names, Dothard said. Police were testing Milteer for drugs and alcohol, he said. Robert Rumsey, district attorney for Talladega County, has decided to charge Milteer with five counts of vehicular homicide, said Roy Smith, public information officer for the Alabama Department of Public Safety. Milteer also has been charged with reckless driving and attempting to elude police officers, Smith said. Smith said Milteer gave no reason for not stopping at the weigh station. "We have no reason yet," he said. "He was driving very erratically during this time and had run off the road several times." The chase involved seven police and Alabama State Patrol cars, some of which had established a "rolling roadblock" in front of the truck to try to slow it down to an eventual stop, Dothard said. Dothard said state troopers "did exactly the right thing" in their efforts to apprehend the truck driver. "They handled it just right," he said. "It's just unfortunate that innocent people had to die from reckless driving like this." At the scene, wrecker service operator Dillard Higginbotham described the carnage he witnessed when he first arrived at the accident site to haul away the vehicles. "It was a horrible scene," he said, "to see people laying out on the road, dead for no reason at all. They were laying all up and down the road." Higginbotham said the van was "crumpled up like an accordion" after the truck rammed it, ejecting the passengers. "It looked like they'd been using it the vanto play ball with, the way it was all bent up," he said. The wheels from a child's toy truck that fell from the van lay on the side of the interstate near the 100-foot-long skid marks leading from the spot where the van came to rest to the charred truck. Nearby, a broken pair of men's eyeglasses were stuck in the ground near a bloodstain. Higginbotham said troopers told him that the truck was traveling 70 to 75 mph when it hit the van, a 1986 white Chevrolet. Several pine saplings on the side of the road were snapped off at the trunk in the accident. A State Patrol spokesman said Alabama state troopers were continuing to investigate the accident and notify relatives. Copyright 1986 The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution

Family outing ends in tragedy in Coldwater, Alabama by Monte Plott, Staff Writer Pulished June 23, 1986, The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution EDITION: The Atlanta Journal Authorities continued to try to piece together details of a collision that, a day earlier killed six occupants of a van that truck driver Elmer G. Milteer slammed into following a high speed chase that led police on a 20-mile chase from a weigh-in station in Georgia to an open stretch of I-20 near Coldwater, Alabama. Killed were William Joyner, 53, and his wife, Annie Lou Joyner, 44, their son, Ryan Jason Joyner, 5, Mrs. Joyner's aunt, Mary Bannister Garms, 68, her granddaughter, Regina Lynn Foster, 16, and Patricia Kay Prudoehl, 18. They had been to breakfast at Shoney's, a family affair, and were heading back home in William Joyner's new red and white Chevrolet van when the police cars came rushing up from the rear. Joyner pulled over to the side of Interstate 20 and stopped, less than half a mile from the exit he would have taken. Sitting beside him, Steve Foster glanced in the rear-view mirror. And in a blur of blue lights and sirens, he saw the truck. "I knew it was going to hit us. He was coming up so fast, straight at us, and we were sitting there at a dead stop. "I had my seat belt on and I wanted to undo it and jump out, but by the time I even reached for the buckle, he hit us and I was through the window," Foster said Sunday, as authorities continued to piece together details of a collision a day earlier that killed six occupants of the van, including Joyner. Foster, who was injured, was the lone survivor among the van's occupants. Authorities said a truck driver from New York led law officers on a 20-mile chase from a weigh-in station in Georgia to an open stretch of I-20 near this east Alabama town. With police cars running in front, alongside and behind, the tractor-trailer rig veered into the emergency lane beside the interstate and plowed into Joyner's van. Killed were Joyner, 53, and his wife, Annie Lou Joyner, 44, both of nearby Bynum. Their son, 5-year-old Ryan Jason Joyner, died en route to a Birmingham hospital. The other victims were identified as Mrs. Joyner's aunt, Mary Bannister Garms, 68, of Munford, and her granddaughter, 16-year-old Regina Lynn Foster of Anniston. Another passenger, Patricia Kay Prudoehl, 18, of St. Charles, Minn., became the accident's sixth fatality when she died Sunday afternoon at the University of Alabama in Birmingham Hospital. Foster, 18, of Anniston, who is Mrs. Garms' grandson, was in satisfactory condition Sunday at Regional Medical Center in Anniston. His injuries included a broken leg, hospital officials said. A Joyner family member said Miss Prudoehl was a friend visiting the Foster teenagers. The truck driver, Elmer G. Milteer, 34, of Brooklyn, was in the Talladega County Jail on Sunday charged with reckless driving and attempting to elude police officers. Authorities said other charges would be brought today against Milteer, who was hauling a load of bubble gum from Flowery Branch, Ga., to California for Bullet Express Trucking Co. when he sped past a weigh-in station in Carroll County, Ga., without stopping, and Georgia authorities fell into pursuit. During the chase, according to Lt. Roy Smith of the Alabama State Patrol, cars from Georgia and Alabama agencies as well as local law enforcement departments surrounded the truck in an effort to get the driver to stop. "He never topped 75 mph, but he wouldn't stop," Smith said. "Our men in front of him would slow down but he'd come right up on them or swerve into the emergency lane, and for them it was either having a wreck right there or going on." Milteer had been driving for Bullet Express Trucking for about a year, said Ken Knight, manager of operations for the New York-based company. Reached at home Sunday, Knight said he didn't remember any problems with the driver. "He had plenty of time to get where he was going," Knight said. "I'm just flabbergasted that he was driving like that." Dee Monte, safety director for the trucking firm, said that Milteer had never had an accident. While he had only been with Bullet since 1985, he had been driving tractor-trailers since 1974, Ms. Monte said. Milteer is single, she said. "He seems like a very clean-cut, normal person, just a quiet guy. I'm very confused at this point," she added. On Sunday, with authorities still unable to explain why a trucker hauling bubble gum would blast down the highway toward a fatal accident, neighbors and relatives flocked to the split-level house where the Joyners had lived for a decade. In addition to their 5-year-old son, the Joyners had three other sons and a daughter, all in their 20s. "It just doesn't make sense. They were just doing what they were supposed to do," said Rita Joyner, a daughter-in-law. "Mr. Joyner was the kind of driver, if you run the siren, he's going to pull over." Bullet Express officials also are at a loss as to why Milteer would not stop at the weigh-in station, since their records indicate the truck's load was well under the legal weight, Ms. Monte said. "There was obviously no reason for him to do that. There were no drugs or alcohol involved," she said. A spokeswoman for the Alabama State Patrol said authorities are awaiting the results of blood and urine tests. Joyner, who worked as a welder rebuilding tanks at the Army depot in Bynum, had bought his van only a couple of weeks earlier, said neighbor Rickey East. "I happened to be driving down I-20right after it happened, and I started to stop because it looked like it might be his van," East said. "But that wreck looked so bad and everything, and I couldn't think of a reason why they'd be out on the interstate, so I just got on out of there." East speculated that Joyner was taking Mrs. Garms to her home; otherwise he would probably have driven home from the restaurant on U.S. 78, parallel to the interstate. Sunday afternoon, under a sweltering sun, gawkers stopped on the interstate and clustered at the charred debris from the truck wreckage. Several people left the scene clutching boxes of gum. A few miles away, East and other neighbors spent the afternoon helping out at the Joyner house, as family members struggled with making funeral arrangements. "They were just good people. They took care of that family, and didn't nothing bother them," East said. "Lord, if they'd just have known to keep going and not stop," he added. "But I guess that's what most people would do." Staff writer Dan Baum also contributed to this report. The last eight paragraphs did not appear in the final edition.

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Alaska

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Arizona

 

Alexander Ahmad, 24
Date of Crash: December 5, 2007

Crash victim's family thanks community by David Biscobing, East Valley Tribune Dec. 7, 2007—About 100 family members and friends of Alexander Ahmad gathered Saturday night in Scottsdale to thank the community for its support following a fatal head-on collision earlier this week. Ahmad, 24, was an innocent victim in Wednesday�fs head-on crash in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Police said the collision was caused intentionally by a man fleeing from officers after a Tempe bank robbery. More	DPS: Suspect in crash intended to die Dec. 7, 2007—A bank robbery suspect being chased by police intended to die when he crashed head-on into another car, killing that driver and himself, the Arizona Department of Public Safety said. Richard Schwartz, 25, the suspect, and Alexander Ahmad, 24, an innocent motorist, died in the crash near the Loop 101 and McKellips in the east Valley on Wednesday afternoon. The wreck was captured by television news helicopters covering a chase that began when, police said, Schwartz robbed a Bank of America branch in Tempe. DPS Highway Patrol division Chief Jack Lane declined to say Thursday what evidence investigators have that Schwartz was bent on suicide. He said discussing details could jeopardize the investigation. DPS is still investigating whether officers acted properly while pursuing Schwartz. ``Preliminary investigation clearly indicates that our officers were acting within policy at the time," Lane said. ``We have a pursuit policy in place to guide us in these circumstances, and that's a key part of this investigation -- to make sure our officers were in compliance with that policy." Lane said there would be a complete review of the case. ``We always look for training issues, equipment issues and the work that our officers are doing, we as an agency always take a look at how we can do things better and make it safer for the public." Right after the crash happened Wednesday, DPS Sgt. Tim Mason said the policy authorizes pursuits of criminal suspects when they threaten the public safety. He said Schwartz, who had a gun, was clearly a threat. Investigators believe Schwartz may have been involved in three other attempted bank robberies in Chandler, two in November and another on Monday.	Alexander Ahmad, 24, Scottsdale, Arizona Ahmad's MySpace Like many people these days, Ahmad shared things about himself on a MySpace Web page. Here's a message left March 16, 2008, by his cousin Nargie: My sweet cousin. I think of you everyday and pray that this was all a bad dream and things will be normal again. That I will see your handsome face and hear you goofy laugh. I think of your jokes and your smile, your kindess. Nothing will ever be the same again..not without you. I love you so much, I hope I told you enough. I really miss your hugs, I miss everything about you, especially the way you pulled up your socks at bowling! I love you and I know one day I'll see you again. With all my love Nargie He listed some of his hobbies, such as snowboarding, working on his car, spinning records and hanging out in Scottsdale. Ahmad was a 2002 graduate of Scottsdale's Saguaro High School and attended Scottsdale Community College. He was pursuing a degree in math. Ahmad worked for a time as a valet at a Scottsdale nightclub. His MySpace page already had several entries memorializing him. Many friends are commenting on how much they were going to miss him and what a great person he was. More stories

 

Jim Cox, Scott Bowerbank,
Rick Krolak, and Craig Smith
Date of Crash: July 27, 2007

4 die when news helicopters collide covering police chase

	Arizona reporters cover their own tragedy It was moments before Friday's midair crash that killed four people, and pilot Craig Smith wanted to know the exact location of Channel 3's helicopter. Only his voice could be heard: "Where's 3?" "Like how far? Oh, jeez." "Oh, jeez."
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Erika Nish, 30 and Stephen Williams 22
Date of Crash: April 1, 2007

Erika Nish, 30, Sacaton Stephen Williams, 22, Sacaton Victims of fiery crash in Tempe identified KATIE MCDEVITT, East Valley Tribune April 2, 2007—Tempe police have identified the man and woman killed during a police chase Sunday as Sacaton residents Erika Nish, 30, and Stephen Williams, 22. Police said they were following Joe Miranda Lopez’s red SUV when it ran a red light at Rural and Warner roads after 4 p.m. and struck a vehicle, ejecting its occupants. The passengers were not wearing seatbelts. Lopez’s SUV then burst into flames, and he fought with officers who tried to rescue him from his vehicle. He was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries. Police said they had been following Lopez with lights and sirens for a couple streets after he attempted a burglary near Carver Road and Mill Avenue. At one point, Lopez appeared to be stopping, but instead tried to drive his car into an officer. Police are recommending the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office to charge Lopez with burglary, aggravated assault and two counts first degree murder.

Driver in police pursuit arrested in deaths 2 killed in crash as burglary suspect tries to elude Tempe officers Eugene Scott , The Arizona Republic April 3, 2007—A 30-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man, both of Sacaton, were killed during a Tempe police pursuit of a burglary suspect Sunday. Joe Lopez, 38, of Maricopa, was driving the vehicle that hit and killed the two when he ran a red light at Warner and Rural roads, police said. Tempe police were called at 3:52 p.m. Sunday about a burglary in progress and given a description of the car involved. Police saw a car that fit the description traveling west on Carver Road and followed the car into a cul-de-sac, police said. Lopez was driving the car. Three police cars fanned out to block Lopez, but he accelerated toward one of the vehicles, according to police. The vehicle moved out of the way to avoid injuries, allowing Lopez to escape. Police caught up with him at Rural and Carver roads, police said. Officers activated their lights as they pursued the suspect southbound and approached Warner and Rural roads. Lopez drove through the red light and hit a vehicle traveling west on Warner, police said. Tempe police spokesman Mike Horn said officials believe police were in compliance with department policy when they pursued the suspect, because the pursuit was in response to an aggravated assault. However, he said they will conduct a standard investigation of the incident. Neither of the two passengers in the vehicle hit by the suspect wore seat belts, police said. Erika Nish and Stephen Williams were ejected from the car and died. Lopez's car went off into a landscaped area and then caught on fire. Police said Lopez fought with them while they were trying to rescue him. They eventually got fire extinguishers and got him out of the car, they said. Lopez was taken to a trauma center and was released Monday afternoon. Police arrested Lopez on suspicion of first-degree murder, aggravated assault on a police officer and unlawful flight from law enforcement. Republic reporter Michael Struening contributed to this article.

Brian Cook, 41
Date of Crash: June 23, 2006

Brian Cook, 41, Killed in Tolleson, Arizona, Police Chase News 5, CBS, KPHO.com — June 23, 2005 PHOENIX (AP) — A 25-year-old man allegedly involved in a beer run is being booked on murder charges following a fatal collision early today at a west Phoenix intersection. Police say the suspect was trying to evade a Tolleson motorcycle officer when he ran a red light at 83rd Avenue and McDowell and the car collided with a pickup. The driver of the pickup, 41-year-old Brian Cook, was killed. Phoenix police Sergeant Andy Hill says the suspect, Arnoldo Barriente, was treated at a hospital and was arrested upon his release. Hill says because Barriente was running from police he was being booked for investigation of first-degree murder. Hill says a passenger in Barriente's car allegedly stole beer from a convenience store a short time earlier, and a Tolleson motorcycle officer was pursuing the car after the thief when the accident occurred. Jan. 22, 2008 Man to spend life in prison for fatal Tolleson crash by Brent Whiting The Arizona Republic A drunken driver who killed a man while trying to flee from Tolleson police will spend the rest of his life behind bars. Arnold C. Barriente Jr., 25, who was found guilty of first-degree murder and a laundry list of other crimes, has been consigned to life in prison. The Phoenix man was sentenced last week in Maricopa County Superior Court. Prosecutors said the case marked the first time that a defendant has been found guilty of first-degree murder for killing somebody while unlawfully trying to elude police. The victim, Brian David Cook, 41, of Phoenix, was killed June 23, 2006, after Barriente stole two cases of a beer from a Tolleson gas station, according to police. Barriente then ran a red light and police tried to stop him for the red-light violation, before a half-mile pursuit that ended in a fatal crash at 83rd Avenue and McDowell Road. Police said Barriente had been driving with a suspended license and a blood-alcohol level of 0.118 percent. The legal blood-alcohol concentration in Arizona is 0.08. Barriente, an ex-convict, deserves to be removed from society, said Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas. "While justice clearly caught up with the defendant, it cannot make up for the death of Mr. Cook, whose life was cut short by a drunk driver," Thomas said. In addition to the murder charge, Barriente was found guilty by a jury of negligent homicide, endangerment, two counts of aggravated DUI, unlawful flight and shoplifting. He was released from prison April 20, 2006, after serving two years for robbery and possession of a forgery device.

Police got their beer thieves, but at what cost? By Laurie Roberts Arizona Republic June 23, 2006 — A tragic story out of west Phoenix early this morning. Two guys steal a pair of 30-packs of beer from a gas station mini mart and a Tolleson police officer gives chase. It didn't take long before the eastbound beer thieves, one an ex-con, blasted through a red light at 83rd Avenue and McDowell, killing 41-year-old Brian Cook, who was driving his pickup truck south through the intersection. The driver/theft suspect, Arnoldo Barriente, 25, was arrested and will likely face murder charges. Phoenix police said the officer "was complying with the law" when he gave chase. If so, then the law ought to change. Surely in this day, there's a better way to catch beer thieves than with a chase through city streets.

 

 

Cody Brett Morrison, 22
Date of Crash: April 7, 2005

Cody Brett Morrison, 22, and his friends were doing everything right. They had no place to go when the car fleeing police crashed into their car. Reason for chase: Officers chased a suspected drunken driver.

Editorial from the Arizona Republic: The bungled police pursuit of a suspected drunken driver that killed a Scottsdale man on Loop 101 resulted in the punishment of five officers. But many questions remain. The big one: Why did this happen? As the facts of the April 7 incident emerge, it is clear that police did not follow the department's own chase policies. Death Penalty not sought in fatal crash The Arizona Republic, Sept. 15, 2006 Senior prosecutors cited the Scottsdale (Arizona) Police Department's admission that officers violated the department's chase policy in engaging Szymanski's car as one factor in the decision, among others.

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Arkansas

 

Isaac Brown, 58
Date of Crash: June 14, 2007

Reason for chase: suspect driving stolen car. Isaac Brown remembered on Fox News, right here. Links to other stories, right here.	Loving husband and loving & caring father Isaac Brown, 58, Little Rock	An innocent driver, Isaac Brown, 58, is dead after his car was struck Thursday night on Wright Avenue by a stolen car being chased by Little Rock police. High-speed pursuit of suspects in violent crimes is one thing. Pursuit of a stolen car strikes me as another. But it's also easy to second-guess cops out on the street. In this case, the stolen car had stopped for a patrol officer, then sped off when he walked up to the car. Two passengers in the stolen car were taken to hospitals after being ejected in the wreck. Arkansas Blog, right here.

Trooper Mark W. Carthron, 31, West Memphis, Arkansas September 15, 2005

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California

Jason Allen Siebert, 32
Date of Crash: December 6, 2008

Jason Allen Siebert, 32, Long Beach, formerly of Fresno/Clovis A blog set up in celebration of his life can be found at www.jasonsiebert.blogspot.com	Victim sang passionately for the arts By Kelly Puente, Staff Writer Posted: 12/12/2008 LONG BEACH - Jason Allen Siebert lived for the arts. Whether it was performing dinner theater on the Queen Mary, playing Goofy at Disneyland or bringing music to schools through the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Siebert was passionate about performance. "It was just as much an avocation as a vocation," said friend Jason Holland. "The arts were part of his life, and he shared it with everyone." Siebert, a 32-year-old La Habra resident, was killed in a car collision Saturday when a suspect fleeing from a police officer broadsided his 1998 BMW convertible. The suspect, 22-year-old Cody Adam Brown of Long Beach, has been charged with second-degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and evading causing death. Brown is scheduled to be arraigned in Long Beach Superior Court on Dec. 23. Court records show Brown was arrested for driving under the influence once before in April 2007. The charges were dismissed when he paid fines and completed a drunken driving education class, records show. At about 2 a.m. Saturday, an officer spotted Brown driving a 2004 Chevrolet pickup truck through a red light at the corner of Bellflower Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway. Brown headed south on Bellflower, swung a right on Colorado Street and continued to blow through stop signs and street lights, police said. He continued west on Fourth Street at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour, with the officer following several blocks behind, said Long Beach Police Department spokeswoman Nancy Pratt. The police chase ended when Brown's truck plowed into Siebert's southbound BMW at Redondo Avenue. The truck also collided with a taxicab heading eastbound on Fourth Street. Lt. Josef Levy said a preliminary investigation revealed that the officer followed police protocol. "Based on preliminary details, this driver posed a threat when he failed to yield," Levy said. "We have an obligation under these circumstances to apprehend the suspect." Once an officer initiates a chase, the officer must call a supervisor to make a decision on whether or not to continue, Levy said. Deciding factors including time of day, weather, population and if the driver appears to be a danger. In this case, the chase lasted a matter of minutes and the officer did not have time to call a supervisor, Pratt said. Friends said Siebert's loss is devastating to the Southern California theater community. For the past five years, he worked in the Orange County Performing Arts Center's education department, in charge of organizing theater performances at schools. "He was an amazing talent and passionate advocate for the arts," said Orange County Performing Arts Center director Terry Dwyer. Siebert's background was in singing and acting, and he performed on the Queen Mary in Tibbies Great American Cabaret, played a butler in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and worked as different characters at Disneyland. "The biggest thing about Jason was how bright and friendly he was and how easy he was to work with," said Todd Vigiletti of Star Gazer Productions, which owns Tibbies. "It shows you, as much as we plan for our lives, we don't know what's going to happen tomorrow." Best friend Joe Maioriello, who first met Siebert at Biola University in La Mirada, said the two bonded over being gay and growing up in religious families. Born and raised in Fresno, Siebert grew up in a family of Mennonites, an Anabaptist Christian denomination, his friend said. "The big struggle of his life was rectifying his choices as a gay man and his religious background," Maioriello said. Siebert was accepted by his family, and eventually came to terms with his religion, his friend said. "He always showed his family a great example of healthy relationships," Maioriello said. Maioriello said he was amazed by how many people Siebert touched. "His arms stretched so much wider than I ever imagined," he said. On the night of his death, Maioriello said, Siebert went dancing with friends at Executive Suite on Pacific Coast Highway. After the nightclub closed, Siebert went driving down Redondo, likely toward Shore House Cafe on Second Street to get a plate of nachos - his favorite way to end an evening out. "He always drives in his car with music blaring, singing at the top of his lungs," his friend noted. On that night, Maioriello said, a witness in another vehicle glanced over at Siebert, just before the light turned green. The witness said Siebert had been singing. Services for Jason Siebert are open to the public and will be held Tuesday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa.	News Stories Fresnan killed as bystander in Long Beach police chase The Fresno Bee Jason Siebert, a Fresno Christian High School graduate who was active in Southern California theater, was killed Saturday as a bystander in a police chase, his family confirmed this week. Siebert's mother, Debbie Siebert, is the superintendent of Fresno Christian Schools. Siebert, 32, was struck by a pickup driven by Cody Brown, 22, of Long Beach, who was fleeing Long Beach police at speeds approaching 100 mph, according to a published report in the Long Beach Press-Telegram. Officers told the newspaper that Brown's truck sped through red lights and stop signs, struck Siebert's car at an intersection, then hit a taxi. Long Beach police arrested Brown on suspicion of manslaughter and reckless and impaired driving, according to the Long Beach newspaper. Long Beach police did not return several calls seeking additional details. Services for Jason Siebert will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Clovis Hills Community Church. Grand jury to hear murder case, click here. Links to other stories, click here.

Martin Padilla, 51
Date of Crash: August 28, 2008

Martin Padilla, 51 Pinole, CA	Martin Padilla remembered as devoted college employee August 28, 2008, Pinole, CA: "Martin was extremely passionate about what he did," Contra Costa College President McKinley Williams said. "He did so much above and beyond the call of duty and will be remembered as a humble man. He loved serving people." During the day, Padilla, who held a master's degree in disability rehabilitation services, mentored disabled students, Williams said. Padilla's widow, Nanette Barce-Padilla, 50, expressed anger that sheriff's deputies hadn't broken off the chase for a known parolee in a stolen car. "If they have a police chase, it's not worth trying to catch the person because it kills innocent people," Barce-Padilla said. "That's not the first time that stuff like this has happened."	News Stories More about Martin Padilla In the meantime, the Contra Costa College community is reeling from the sudden loss of someone they've come to know as a mainstay at the campus. "People are in a state of shock," Williams said. "Folks couldn't believe it. Not Martin. Not to such a nice guy." click here. Martin was stickler for safe driving, SFGate.com Links to other stories, click here.

December 2007

A second California police chase for a stolen car
leads to the death of two more innocent victims
San Francisco: Killed in the Dec. 11 crash were innocent bystanders Kristopher Bratt, 20, of Novato, and another man in Bratt's Chevrolet Cavalier, Alfonso Felipe Cortez, 36. Kristopher had been working as a laborer for Redwood Engineering in Tiburon. Authorities were unable to provide a hometown for Alfonso, saying only that he lived in the East Bay. Comment: A driver in a stolen car is a known flight risk. I would not expect the driver to pull over appropriately on a busy street with traffic controlled intersections, and the number of innocent bystanders killed because of chases for stolen cars indicates this to be true. — Candy Priano

Innocent bystanders — man and woman — killed in California chase
Modesto: A woman critically injured Sunday, Dec. 9, 2007, in a head-on collision north of Modesto died Dec. 10, becoming the third person killed in the wreck. Heather Miller, 40, of San Leandro died at Memorial Medical Center in Modesto, authorities said. She was a passenger in a car that investigators said was hit head-on by a stolen sport utility vehicle whose driver was trying to evade Stanislaus County sheriff's deputies. Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Royjindar Singh released the identities of the two men killed in the crash. They are Steven Jackson, 53, of Modesto, who was driving the car in which Miller was a passenger and Brandon Ellis, 20, of Riverbank, a passenger in the SUV. The men died Sunday of blunt-force trauma, Singh said. The crash was on Claribel Road between Coffee and Oakdale during heavy traffic on Sunday.

July 2007

Officer Douglas "Scott" Russell, 46
Date of crash: July 31, 2007

June 2007

Miguel Castro Falcon, father of three, killed June 27, 2007

Los Angeles Sheriff's department chased suspects in a stolen car.

Los Angeles Sheriff's department policy does not allow chases for stolen car offences.

April 2007

Edgar Garcia Torres, 22, San Francisco, April 19

John Avery, 57, San Francisco, April 16

Steven Aveles, 20
Date of Crash: April 15, 2007

Steven Aveles, 20, Upland

A burglary in Yucaipa turned into a highway chase that caused the death of an innocent Upland man early Sunday morning. The Yucaipa Sheriff Station responded to the burglary and were in pursuit of a driver of a 2007 Dodge Charger who was fleeing the scene of an attempted burglary. The chase began on surface streets at 12th Street and Avenue D in Yucaipa and ended on Interstate 10 at Ford Street. The Charger, which had entered the freeway headed west in the eastbound lanes, crashed head-on into a 1999 Honda Civic killing 20-year-old Steven Aveles of Upland, a passenger in the Honda, and critically injuring the driver, whose name was withheld. The driver of the Civic, a 20-year-old La Puente man, was taken to Loma Linda University Medical Center, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Daniel Dawson, 36
Date of Crash: April 7, 2007

Daniel Dawson, 36 Bakersfield, CA	Police chase ends in pileup; bystander killed, click here. Police said the man who hit Dawson—Brian Marling—is a known gang member and when police tried to issue a search warrant at his home, Marling fled. Daniel Dawson was hit and killed while waiting at a stop light. Daniel Dawson and family; wife, Rhonda Dawson; and boys, Andrew, 11, left, and Jordan, 9.	News Stories Family mourns death of family man killed in police pursuit, KGET.com (Story no longer available) "I miss his laugh and he was an incredible singer," said Paul Reed, Dawson's brother-in-law, "and I miss that. I heard a church song this morning that he sang, and I could hear him singing it. I will always miss that." Links to other stories, click here.

February 2007
Monica Lucky, 41, resides in Stockton, February 11, 2007

Acting Oakland PD Traffic Sergeant Vincent Fratangelo said, "No. No chase was involved in this one." Yet, witness Amy Badore said, "I saw a police car following with its sirens and lights on."

Brandon Louis Harper
Date of crash: January 20, 2007

Brandon Harper, 26, Santa Maria	Brandon Louis Harper was on his way to get a Jumbo Jack at 10:00 p.m., when a 20-year-old boy being pursued by the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department, hit Brandon's car at 87 miles an hour. t the Sheriffs were pursuing the 20-year-old on two of the busiest streets in our city brought me to a new awareness about the tragedy that surrounds high speed pursuits.	Santa Barbara Sheriff's officers were pursuing the 20-year-old suspected DUI on two of the busiest street in Santa Maria.

November 2006

Rosanna Garcia,

October 2006

Kathryn "Katie" Bogosian-Langley, 25, Paradise, Oct. 26
Paradise/Magalia—Kathryn, an innocent victim of pursuit, leaves behind a 4-year-old son and loving husband. The driver who fled was in-and-out of our courts and jails too many times. Our criminal justice system failed the Bogosian-Langley family. And, Katie was not protected when the chase began for a known suspect who had said, "I will do anything to avoid going back to prison." Did the officers really believe this suspect would pull over appropriately on a busy street? -- Candy Priano

September 2006

Rodrigo Vega, 38, Carlsbad, Sept. 5

Uninvolved motorist killed in police pursuit
North County Times,?A? September 6, 2006
CARLSBAD—A San Marcos man was thrown from his pickup and suffered fatal injuries when the vehicle was hit by a suspected car thief who was believed to be ...

Police pursuit ends in death of bystander
San Diego Union Tribune - September 5, 2006
CARLSBAD—A San Marcos man was killed Tuesday morning when a car being pursued by police smashed into the side of his pickup truck and knocked him from the ...

Quadriplegic sues SFPD over injuries
San Francisco Chronicle: The complaint also says that SFPD conspired to omit their involvement in the collision report.

July 2006


Officer Nick Birco, 39,
a five-year department veteran who worked at the Bayview station
sfgate.com - July 26 , 2006

San Francisco Police Officer Killed In chase
CBS 5 - San Francisco - July 26, 2006
A San Francisco police officer died early this morning after a vehicle collision during a police chase, ... The identity of the officer is being withheld pending notification of his family. He worked at Bayview station.

The Officer Down Memorial Page Remembers . . . Officer Nick Birco

KTVU.com

Date of Crash: June 30, 2006; Date of Death: July 2, 2006

Halley Simone Lee, 9 months old	Precious, little Halley Simone Lee died, after suffering massive brain injuries June 30, 2006, when her mother's car was hit by a vehicle whose driver was being pursued for a suspected DUI by Alameda County Sheriff's deputies.   Baby seriously injured after high speed chase San Francisco Chronicle; July 1, 2006 Hayward — A 9-month-old girl is in critical condition this morning after a man allegedly running from Alameda County Sheriff's deputies ...	Infant In Crash Brain Dead July 3 - BCN - A 9-month-old Hayward girl who was critically injured Friday night in a car crash in Hayward was pronounced brain dead at 4 p.m. Sunday at Oakland Children's Hospital, according to Alameda County Sheriff's Sgt. Scott Dudek. The infant, Halley Simone Lee, is being kept alive at the hospital with the help of machines. Lee's family has not decided whether they will keep the girl attached to the machines, Dudek said. Niven Singh, the man who allegedly hit the car Lee was in while fleeing from Alameda County sheriff's deputies, was arraigned today in Alameda County Superior Court on murder and other charges.

May 2006

Undercurrents: Two More Innocent Bystanders Die in High Speed Chase
Berkeley Daily Planet, by J. Douglas Allen-Taylor — June 2, 2006
Commentary: Reporter J. Douglas Allen-Taylor does his job, and he does it very well. Here we go again; looks like there's a mandate to keep the numbers low for innocent victims of pursuit in California.

April 7, 2006

Lisa Rosas

Innocent Lisa Rosas, 17, died and her passenger, 22-month-old Katrina Martinez, is being treated at a Madera hospital. Little Katrina is paralyzed as a result of neck and spinal cord injuries.

No pursuit probe planned
The Bakersfield Californian - By Gretchen Wenner - April 10, 2006
Bakersfield's police chief said Monday the department won't formally investigate whether officers appropriately followed pursuit policies last Friday, when a high-speed chase led to the death of a 17-year-old girl and seriously injured a toddler -- both uninvolved.
Commentary: It is so shocking that California's State Law denies innocent victims of pursuit and their families the right to discovery in a Court of Law, so families can find out whether or not the officers involved the chase followed their pursuit policy. Add to this, innocent victims are also denied independent reviews of these deadly chases. In California, if there is a review, typically the review board is made up entirely of members of law enforcement, and in some cases, members from the same L.E. agency involved in the pursuit review these chases. So, there is no outside review.

Family mourns teen's death in police chase
The Bakersfield Californian - By Gretchen Wenner and Tim Kupsick - April 8, 2006
You may be required to register to read the full story at the above link. Registration is very easy.

From the above story: "It just couldn't be my baby," Ana Robledo thought Friday night. But she saw the car: her daughter's Geo Prism, which moments earlier had been hit by a fleeing suspect and a police car during a high-speed chase in east Bakersfield.

The pursuit through a residential area that led to the death of an innocent bystander in another car was within departmental policy and won't be investigated, a Bakersfield police spokesman said Saturday.

Robledo's 17-year-old daughter, Lisa A. Rosas, a senior at Foothill High School, was killed Friday when a man driving a stolen Chevrolet Suburban crashed into her Geo Prism head-on.

"I just don't understand why they didn't let him go," she said, referring to the man in the stolen Suburban, which was equipped with a satellite tracking system. "I just want to know the truth about what happened, because there are so many stories."

Cleora Chrisman, 67, Oakland
sfgate.com - April 12, 2006

Google Cleora Chrisman

Victims not identified in fatal Oakland police chase
The MercuryNews.com - Bay City News Service - April 8, 2006

From the above story: The Escalade she allegedly drove was reported stolen, Rullamas said. He said his division would pass the car's information on to the robbery division to see if it matches with the suspect vehicle in Thursday's robberies. `It certainly matched the appearance,'' he said.

The dead woman has been identified, Rullamas said, but her next of kin has not yet been located. She is a 67-year-old woman from Oakland.

Rullamas said he does not yet know what charges the suspect will face. `I'm going to meet with the DA's office Monday and see what, exactly, they would be interested in charging her with,'' he said. He said he is not intimately familiar with her condition, and that there is a chance she may not survive.

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Two Hurt After Oakland High-Speed Chase
abc7news.com - San Francisco, CA - April 7, 2006
At least two people are seriously hurt after a high-speed pursuit in Oakland. Police were chasing the driver of a black ... Police have not said what sparked the police chase.

March 2006

Crash During Pursuit Kills Unborn Child

A Long Beach woman's unborn child was killed and she was critically injured Thursday when a man fleeing police crashed into the car in which she was riding in Garden Grove. Sully Portillo, 22, who was seven months' pregnant, was taken to UCI Medical Center in Orange with trauma to the chest area and knee. Her 22-year-old fiance, Anthony Moore, who was also taken there, was stable with injuries to the wrist, knee and abdomen.

February 2006

Asatur Tokatlyan, 42, Los Angeles, Feb. 23
Asatur died en route to the hospital, said Kevin Maiberger of the Los Angeles Police
Department. Tokatlyan lived in Hollywood with his wife and two children.

January 2006

Dateline January 14, 2006:
Two chases = 4 more innocent victims of pursuit killed in California since the New Year.

With these two pursuit crashes and other chases where the fleeing suspects were killed, January's reported death total is 7 (Source: Google Alert news stories). Note: The Kristie's Law Web site lists the names of innocent victims of pursuit and the names of officers killed in pursuits.

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The three news stories between these lines cover the same chase

Suspect charged in traffic deaths
OCRegister - Orange County, CA January 18, 2006
An Anaheim man suspected of leading police on a car chase that ended in the deaths of three people was charged with murder Tuesday.

Commentary: A quote from the above story: "... suspected of leading police on a car chase..."?aises a red flag about what law enforcement agencies don't tell the media. Either it was a police chase or it was not a police chase. Keep in mind that police vehicular pursuits begin well before the actual physical chase. It begins before officers "light up" a suspect. That's when officers need to determine whether or not they will chase a suspect, if the driver does not pull over appropriately.

From police pursuit expert, Dr. Geoffrey Alpert: Officers need to ask the following three questions before they attempt to pull over anyone:

1. If the pursuit were to result in injury or death, would a reasonable person understand why the pursuit occurred or was necessary?
   
2. Is the need to immediately catch the suspect more important than the risk created by the pursuit?
   
3. Do the dangers created by the pursuit exceed the dangers posed by letting the perpetrator escape?

On a statewide level, this story about the deaths of three innocent victims, along with the lack of media coverage of the 3-year-old boy who was?illed in a Pasadena pursuit in December, concerns me because pursuit deaths are already under-reported, which means not all fatalities by pursuit are reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It is important to share this new information about these recent chases. My fear is that deaths to innocent victims of pursuit will be summarily dismissed as traffic "accidents" in an attempt by law enforcement officials to keep the fatalities resulting from pursuit crashes low.?

Three Dead, Two Hurt After Police Chase
abc7.com - Los Angeles, CA January 14, 2006
ANAHEIM - A van driven by a man fleeing police collided with a Toyota Camry in Anaheim, killing three
of the car's occupants and injuring two others ... The innocent were identified as Anaheim residents Guadalupe Ramirez, 39, Francisco Martinez, 20, Francisco Aguilar-Brito, 20; the suspect ran a red light and was being chased because he was a suspect for a petty theft at a bar ...

2 reported killed after police pursuit
OCRegister - Orange County, CA January 14, 2006
... A Fullerton officer began the pursuit about 10:30 pm when he spotted a van run a red light near Euclid Street and Orangethorpe Avenue, a police spokesman said. ...

 

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One Dead in San Gabriel Valley Police Chase
abc7.com - Los Angeles,CA, January 13, 2006
ARCADIA - A 16-year-old boy led police on a chase in a stolen car that ended in Arcadia when the stolen vehicle collided another car, killing its driver and ...

December 2005
Fallen CHP Officer Erick Manny, click here and officer.com

 

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December 11, 2005

Talmin Moye, Jr., 3, Pasadena L.A. Times: Arcadia Police Lt. Ken Harper says, "It was over by the time it started." It has just begun for the family of Talmin Moye, Jr.	Talmin was a passenger in his dad's car. They were heading for some yummy treats, a pancake breakfast. The reason for this chase: A stolen car.	Commentary: Innocent victims of pursuit often hear law enforcement's public relations officials saying the pursuit was not that long ... or the chase was not a high-speed pursuit. But we (family members of innocent victims) know the pursuit was long enough and at a speed high enough to kill and permanently injure our innocent loved ones. Regarding the pursuit that resulted in Talmin's death, officers had identified the car as stolen BEFORE they got to the scene. When they arrived, they saw the woman in the car. Did officers really think someone in a stolen car would do the right thing? Were marked or unmarked cars sent to the scene? When someone reports suspicious activity, some police departments (Source: Protect and Serve) will send unmarked cars -- not to use for pursuit -- but to observe the suspect. In this case, officers in unmarked cars could have truly followed the suspect without her knowledge until she was no longer behind the wheel of a car and then the officers could have made their arrest. Read: Weak Argument

 

Innocent victim is identified as Roy White, 61, U.S. Highway 101, north of the John Daly exit in the Bay area. SF Chronicle report and The San Mateo Daily Journal

Both chases that killed civilians continued because the suspects were driving stolen vehicles.
Kristie's Law would have saved these innocent lives.
Kristie's Law does not allow chases for property crimes.

More innocent victims killed and injured in California pursuits

Study California's Pursuit Practices

CNN LARRY KING LIVE
Interview with John Walsh
Complete Transcript of the Show
Aired December 23, 2002

Walsh: ... Some states' victims have rights and some states' victims have no rights at the at all. I'll tell you what, the U.S. Constitution's been amended 27 times. Four for the criminals' rights. That's OK. They should have their rights. But nothing has ever been put in the Constitution or the Constitution has never been amended for victims' rights. ...

KING: A couple of other quick things. What do you make of the new police chief in L.A. stopping these high-speed police chases?

WALSH: You know, I know Chief Bratton, and he did a great job here in New York City. He's just the guy for the job in Los Angeles. You know, I think two things. First of all, the media covers these police chases way too much. It really spurs up other jerks to get high or drunk and go out there and try to outrun the police. Innocent people get killed. I think there is better ways to do it. Chief Bratton is going to do that. You call ahead to other jurisdictions, you put the nails across the street. You know, innocent people get killed in these police chases, and I'll tell you what, I think the media has a responsibility. Sure, it makes great TV, but it spurs these other creeps to try to do the same thing.

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Colorado

March 22, 2007

Jacob "Jake" Brock, 19, Eagle Jennifer Kois, 19, Eagle	Suspect in fatal chase is former police officer. Officers chased the suspect for a suspected DUI. These two teens are just the cutest couple, click here.

January 4, 2006

Monica Ortiz talks about the death of her unborn baby boy, January 4, 2006

Victim In Chase, Crash Talks About Losing Baby
www.kcncnews4.com
Ortiz said that the pain of the loss of her boy is intolerable. She also said she thinks police should have been more cautious in their pursuit of a stolen car.

"I think that he shouldn't have been doing what he was doing and I don't think the police should have been chasing him either," Ortiz said. "I think that if they weren't chasing him I wouldn't have gotten hit."

Kristie's Law does not allow chases for property crimes.

Study Colorado's Pursuit Practices

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Connecticut

The National Highway Traffic Administration reported six fatalities involving police in pursuit in 2006.
Two were innocent bystanders in another vehicle.

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Delaware

April 2006

Man, 22, charged with murder after crash during police chase
New Castle man killed in fiery collision
delawareonline.com, update
Commentary: All fleeing suspects who kill an innocent person or officer need to be charged with murder.

 

Erie Dobson, 40, New Castle, April 8
6abc.com - April 9, 2006

Reason for the chase: A Newport police officer was pursuing McKinley, whose license had been suspended for 30 days, about 11:15 p.m. Saturday when McKinley's car struck a Jeep Cherokee at the intersection of Del. 141 and Del. 273.

From the above 6abc.com story: Dead is 40-year-old Erie Dobson, father of two, of New Castle on his way home from a job at Home Depot.

Jason McKinley was fleeing police. He was first spotted driving recklessly along Route 4 in Newport. Police say they tried to stop McKinley's car. McKinley allegedly shot through a residential area and then south of Route 141, outrunning officers. He only stopped when he slammed into Dobson's Jeep.

The Chief says the pursuing officer lost site of the Honda prior to the accident, he says, effectively ending the chase.

Commentary: The Chief's statement may be true, but so often the code of silence prevents the public from knowing for sure. When innocent victims of pursuit are killed, law enforcement spokespersons routinely take this route. This Chief's comments are so familiar. Most of us do not have or receive the facts about these police chases, so every time an innocent person is killed, law enforcement can say to the media and through them to us, these statements:

• "The pursuit just got started or the chase just ended."
• "We were not chasing; we were 'following' or trying to 'catch up' to the suspect."
• "The pursuit was not high-speed."
• "We were not chasing period."

Family members of innocent victims know the pursuit was long enough and at a speed high enough to kill and permanently injure their innocent loved ones.)

I believe that if the suspect had crashed into a tree and was apprehended by the officers who were chasing him, the chief would not have said, "the pursuing officer lost site of the Honda prior to the accident, he says, effectively ending the chase.

Study Delaware's Pursuit Practices

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Florida

July 2006
Kenneth Roger Gadd, 55, Lakeland, July 17, 2006.
Lakeland Police Officers chased a suspect in a stolen truck.

Allison "Allie" Joy Angerman
Date of crash: June 30, 2006, Died July 1, 2006

Allison Joy Angerman, 20 Fort Walton Beach, Florida	A drunken driver fleeing police killed Allison.

March 2006
Pamela Corsen, 59, March 31, 2006

January 2006
Edwin Alvarado, Jan. 23, 2006
WFTV.com 9
Questions surround fatal crash, possible police chase. One uninvolved driver, Edwin Alvarado, died in the crash and six others were injured, including a 2-year-old

CBS News: October 31, 2005
Police chases kill ...
And one-third are innocent bystanders.
Jim Phillips' innocent daughter Sarah was killed ...

 

Study Florida's Pursuit Practices

 

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Georgia

February 7, 2008

Sgt. Joanna Ringer, 21

June 27, 2007

Billy Klewitz, 21, Albany, Georgia

ViewPoint: Police chases can be deadly WALB NEW10 NBC July 2, 2007 On Wednesday 21-year-old Billy Klewitz likely did what he often did, played video games, played guitar, talked to his friends and listened to rock music. That night he headed out to pick up his sister. Billy was living his normal life doing what he was supposed to do. Billy didn't know that a few miles away an attempted police arrest was going badly. He didn't know that 32-year-old Bobby Jones decided to race away from police. Billy didn't know the chase was headed head on to him. Billy's normal life ended before he could pick up his sister. Bobby Jones life ended before he could get away from police. Those left behind try to make sense of what happened and lay blame. There is no doubt that Bobby Jones was not doing what he was supposed to do and that he was at fault for this head on collision. But now we ask, what about the police. Did they do it right? We agree that we want to police to arrest the law breakers. And police can't just let everyone go who drives away. But in this case, should they have backed off and picked up Bobby Jones some other time. We don't know what may have happened if the police had let Bobby Jones go without a chase. Maybe someone else would be hurt or killed. But we do know is Billy Klewitz was killed when Bobby Jones was chased. We call on our government leaders to examine closely the chase policy and do everything they can to avoid another deadly police chase.

 

ViewPoint: Police chases can be deadly
WALB NEW10 NBC
July 2, 2007

On Wednesday 21-year-old Billy Klewitz likely did what he often did, played video games, played guitar, talked to his friends and listened to rock music.

That night he headed out to pick up his sister. Billy was living his normal life doing what he was supposed to do.

Billy didn't know that a few miles away an attempted police arrest was going badly.

He didn't know that 32-year-old Bobby Jones decided to race away from police.

Billy didn't know the chase was headed head on to him.

Billy's normal life ended before he could pick up his sister.

Bobby Jones life ended before he could get away from police.

Those left behind try to make sense of what happened and lay blame.

There is no doubt that Bobby Jones was not doing what he was supposed to do and that he was at fault for this head on collision.

But now we ask, what about the police. Did they do it right?

We agree that we want to police to arrest the law breakers. And police can't just let everyone go who drives away.

But in this case, should they have backed off and picked up Bobby Jones some other time.

We don't know what may have happened if the police had let Bobby Jones go without a chase. Maybe someone else would be hurt or killed.

But we do know is Billy Klewitz was killed when Bobby Jones was chased. We call on our government leaders to examine closely the chase policy and do everything they can to avoid another deadly police chase.

 

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Hawaii

January 2007

Cousins Michelle Benevedes (left), 39, and Racquel Akau, 38, Waimanalo, Jan. 20

A growing memorial for victims
khnl.com

Deadly combination: DWI and Police Chase

Two Killed in Waimanalo Crash
khnl.com

Waimanalo crash victims identified; youth arrested
Honolulu Advertiser

Controversy as families mourn

Some witnesses reported hearing sirens and seeing flashing blue lights shortly before the accident.

Several neighbors reported that the SUV was being chased by police down Kalaniana'ole Highway in the Hawaii Kai direction. However, police said today there was no pursuit prior to the accident.

Residents said they saw as many as three police cars on the scene almost immediately.

HPD Denies Police Pursuit Caused Deadly Crash
khnl.com

Witnesses believe police were chasing a SUV on Kalanianaole Highway in Waimanalo before it crashed, killing two women. On Monday, HPD responded to the witness accounts.

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Idaho

Kyle Athay, 28, Bennington

Safety — key concern for police regarding high-speed chases
Idaho State Journal Editorial — May 25, 2006

Cases locally and nationwide of innocent bystanders being killed or seriously injured by crashes related to police chases have garnered much attention lately. Law enforcers, as a result, have been forced to consider the ramifications of turning on their flashing lights and barreling down the road after a bad guy. The good guys now know that hot pursuits can have utterly tragic consequences for themselves and others.

Just ask Kyle Athay of Bennington, a cowboy and heavy equipment operator who is now paralyzed as a result of being struck by a car fleeing police in 1999. Then there's Ueland Redwoman, 29, and Theora Pondo-Galloway, 51, both of Fort Hall and both now dead ...

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Illiniois

January 2003

Qing Chang, 25, Chicago, Jan. 2, 2003

Crain's Chicago Business: Chicago taps brakes on cop car chases May 29, 2004

The loss of Qing Chang, her child, and the potential of their lives cannot be underestimated and/or justified. While the police should not be held accountable for initiating the event that led to the death of Qing Change and her child, the police must nevertheless account for their actions in making the decision to pursue.
(Read Dr. Jurkanin's full comment right here.)

Thomas J. Jurkanin, PhD
Executive Director
Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board

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Indiana

Keahn Hill, 2
Date of Crash: October 21, 2008

3 dead after NW Indiana domestic crime spree and fatal crash Keahn Hill, 2 Portage, Indiana Three killed in stabbing, police chase, crash nbcchicago.com October 21, 2008 Portage, Indiana—A 2-year-old boy is among three killed in a series of events in Northwest Indiana early Tuesday. A woman’s ex-boyfriend stabbed her male friend to death, then crashed a vehicle into a squad car, killing himself and his 2-year-old son, police said. The incident began unfolding early Tuesday when police were dispatched to an apartment in Portage, Ind., where a 29-year-old man, indentified as Dennis Williams, had apparently been stabbed to death by his roommate’s ex-boyfriend. Sonya Hill, 21, who lived in the home told police that Williams was her friend and that while she and the victim were inside the apartment, they heard the door buzzer ringing. When they went to investigate, her ex-boyfriend came barging through the sliding glass patio doors. Hill told police that she and her ex-boyfriend, Lawrence Hill, began arguing about their 2-year-old son, Keahn Hill, who was inside the apartment sleeping, and the ex-boyfriend held a knife to her throat while leading her out of the apartment. At that point, Williams tried to intervene and was stabbed to death by the ex-boyfriend, police said in the release. Lawrence Hill then fled the scene of the murder and Sonya Hill later discovered that he had taken their son with him. She notified police and a broadcast was dispatched to local police departments regarding the murder and kidnapping. At about 1:30 a.m., a police officer from Beverly Shores, Ind., spotted the wanted vehicle eastbound on U.S. Rt. 12 in Beverly Shores. The officer began to chase the vehicle, which headed towards Rt. 20 and continued westbound. Stop Sticks, used by police in setting up roadblocks, were placed on Rt. 20 in Porter, but the suspect drove through them. Keahn Hill was on his father's lap as he approached a second set of Stop Sticks. This time the suspect accelerated and slammed his vehicle head-on into a police vehicle stopped at the location. The sheriff’s deputy was not in his vehicle at the time and was not injured, but the Lawrence and Keahn Hill were both dead at the scene, according to the release.

News Stories Links to other stories, click here. NBC video: 2 year old among the dead in NW Indiana crime spree, click here. WGN video: Interview with Mom and police, click here. Candy Priano's comment: A beautiful baby, Keahn Hill, was killed. Keahn's father and mother were not married. The father, with the baby sitting on his lap, intentionally slammed the car he was driving into an unoccupied police car after officers deployed stop sticks to set up a road block. The father had just killed the boyfriend of the child's mother and, from his own actions, apparently intended to kill himself and his son. He succeeded. As the executive director of PursuitSAFETY, I do not see blame on the part of the police as some bloggers have stated. However, this scenario is one reason why I don't support chases for domestic violence (and yes, I know the father killed the mother's boyfriend). This tragedy became a no-win situation for the mother, boyfriend, Keahn, and the police.

 

January 2007

Cornell Yancey. 44, Gary, January 29, 2007

July 2006

Kirk John Mitchell, 42, Valparaiso
The Times - nwitimes.com

Drunken drivers still terrorize our roadways
The issue: Drunk driving
Our opinion: We need to toughen our laws and make drunk driving socially unacceptable
Aug. 2, 2006

Stop the madness
The issue: High speed police pursuits
Our opinion: The risk is too high and tough limits on chases are a must.
Aug. 1, 2006

Reports: Driver in fatal crash drunk
The weekend death of a motorcyclist who was hit by a car allegedly fleeing Merrillville police should prompt law enforcement officials to revisit their chase policies, the mother of a 2003 crash victim said Monday. Preliminary Lake County accident re...
Aug. 1, 2006

Police pursuit results in wreck, death
MERRILLVILLE | A Valparaiso man died early Sunday when his motorcycle was struck by a car that a witness said appeared to be fleeing Merrillville police at high speed. Kirk John Mitchell, 42, of the 3900 block of East Engel Drive, died of blunt for...
Jul. 31, 2006

Family, friends reflect on Kirk Mitchell
Friends and family of Kirk John Mitchell remember him as a great father and hard worker who had a passion for photography. Mitchell, 42, pre-press manager for The Times, was killed early Sunday morning when his motorcycle was struck by a car in Merri...
Jul. 31, 2006

Merrillville police officers attempted to make a traffic stop of an alleged drunken driver.
The Post -Tribune - August 1, 2006 - Story no longer available

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Injured: Naylon Thompson Jr., 4, Fort Wayne, critical condition, and 19-month-old brother, Nicholas, suffered minor injuries.

Editorial: Tragic police chase
The Journal Gazette - Fort Wayne - March 29, 2006
Given the Fort Wayne Police Department's history of automobile chases, it was only a matter of time before an innocent motorist or passenger was hurt. Sadly, a 4-year-old boy paid the price Monday.

Study Indiana's Pursuit Practices

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Iowa

December 2005

Teresa Fagen, 15, dies in crash as police chase man (Link no longer available)
DesMoinesRegister.com - Des Moines,IA,USA
By SARAH CLARK. A driver being chased by police in rural Perry hit and killed a 15-year-old Perry High School freshman girl Friday night, officials said. ...

Crash renews chase debate (Link no longer available)
Brickner said his department is conducting an internal review of the pursuit, as it has done for at least three other chases in the last year.

Commentary: Investigations of police vehicular pursuits must not only be an internal review by the agency whose officer was involved in the chase, it must also be impartial, made up of officers from another law enforcement agency and citizens who have knowledge about vehicular pursuits. This type of review would protect the officers and the public. It also might provide some valuable insight to prevent future tragedies. -- Candy Priano, posted 2/8/2005

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Kansas

May 20, 2007

Kristin Lynn Saragusa, 38, mother of two. Too many chases harm the innocent Kristin Saragusa had nothing to do with Charles Barker. She was a 38-year-old mother of two and a valued physician's assistant. He was a 23-year-old felon with a cocaine conviction on his record, guns in his car and a Kansas Highway Patrol cruiser on his tail. Their paths collided in Wyandotte County the afternoon of May 20. For Saragusa, a passenger in her boyfriend's car, the impact was fatal.

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Kentucky

The National Highway Traffic Administration reported three fatalities involving police in pursuit in 2006.
One was an innocent bystander in another vehicle.

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Louisiana

August 5 , 2007
Port Barre Police Chief David Richard lost control of his vehicle before he could become involved in the pursuit. Richard's vehicle ran off the road and slammed into trees, ejecting him from the car. The Daily Advertiser reports that "it was unclear what sparked the chase that led to Richard's death.
The Daily Advertiser - Lafayette, LA - August 6, 2007

March 28, 2006
Nieves Montenegro came to America with the dream of a better life for his family.
KPLCTV.COM - Lake Charles, LA - March 28, 2006

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Maine

The National Highway Traffic Administration reported six fatalities involving police in pursuit in 2005.
Five were innocent bystanders in another vehicle.

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Maryland

August 23, 2007
John Andrews, 71, Centreville, August 23, 2007

Vice Principal of Queen Anne's County High School was killed when his car was hit by a driver in a stolen SUV trying to elude police.

John Andrews has left his footprints
stardem.com

April 2007

Officer Luke Hoffman, 24, Montgomery County, April 25; died April 26

Officer Luke Hoffman was struck about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday by a cruiser driven by Officer Stephen J. Wofsey. Hoffman had been chasing a suspected drunk driver, who abandoned his vehicle and was fleeing on foot, police said. Wofsey was driving to the scene to help in the pursuit.

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Massachusetts

May 27 , 2007

One Crash = Three Blameless Victims in Massachusetts

Paul Farris, 23, Killed
Katelyn Hoyt, Critically Injured
Walid Chahine, 45, Critically Injured, died June 3

Tragedy in Massachusetts

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Michigan

July 15, 2007

Anthony S. Quasarano, 46, Romulus Chase ends in tragedy Michigan Avenue chase ends in tragedy Victim's Friends, Family Fill Courtroom, an excerpt from this story: "Tony Q" was a big man -- 6 feet 3 inches tall, 280 pounds -- and well known in the 1,200-member Motor City HOG motorcycle club. He taught beginners how to handle road-cruising motorcycles. A 300-motorcycle procession after his funeral on Friday included representatives from 28 motorcycle clubs and six police departments. They escorted Quasarano's family carrying his ashes to their Huron Township home. He is survived by a daughter, Samantha Quasarano, 20, and two sons, Joshua Cox, 27, and Arron Cox, 26.

A Canton police officer saw a Camaro matching the description of an earlier hit-and-run. The Camaro was in a gas station parking lot, touching off a brief chase with its driver. Commentary: The driver is to blame, but this chase begs the question: Did the officer really expect this driver would pull over appropriately. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy states, "This is a disturbing case where an innocent motorcycle driver was killed in a car crash by a person who failed to recognize a car is a lethal weapon." Worthy provides an excuse: "failed to recognize." I don't buy it. Drivers who flee can no longer use that excuse. And law enforcement needs to figure out another way to catch these types of suspects to save innocent lives and the lives of our police officers.

 

November 2006

Brent Berry, 23, Nov. 10, 2006
Derrick Flowers, 27, Nov. 10, 2006
Eugene Pierce, 25, Nov. 10, 2006'

January 2006

Wife's first thoughts
Detroit Free Press January 24, 2006

David Jones, 45, an innocent victim, killed in police chase
WXYZ - Detroit, MI January 23, 2006
... They then sped away from the scene in a red Ford Taurus. Soon after the suspects left the 7-11, Redford Police spotted them, and the chase was on. ...

Commentary: Greg Fuller, Bloomfield, Michigan, click here.

Study Michigan's Pursuit Practices

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Minnesota

September 6, 2005

Lino Lakes Police Officer Shawn B. Silvera, 32	Police said the suspect struck 32-year-old Officer Shawn Silvera as he was laying down tire deflation devices during the chase. Police Widow Faces First Christmas Without Husband; watch the video, right here. Jennifer Silvera honors late husband Shawn by teaching others to "Be Here Now." Read more, right here.	An officer tried to pull over a 26-year-old man 13 miles north in Wyoming, Minn. The suspect was wanted on a felony warrant for assault and was a suspect in a home invasion, both in South Dakota officials said. He was allegedly driving a stolen Chevy Beretta. Police said the man fled southbound on I-35W. Officials said they were unsure if the suspect intentionally hit officer Silvera or if he swerved to avoid the stop sticks Silvera was laying down. The driver hit Silvera in the median and then crossed into oncoming northbound traffic hitting a minivan, police said. Lino Lakes Officer Killed In High-Speed Chase; read the complete story and watch the video, right here.

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Mississippi

April 2007

Alice Clausell, 69, Capital City, April 22

Family of chase victim seeks answers

by Nicklaus Lovelady

Family members of a 69-year-old woman killed during Saturday's police chase are asking why Alice Clausell of Pascagoula was killed in downtown Jackson after the car she was in was hit by a Ford Explorer being chased by a Raymond police officer.

"You can't imagine what this family is going through right now. Honestly this could all have been avoided," said Charles Wilson, III, Clausell son-in-law. "Common sense as a professional, you have to realize you have people's lives in you hands."

A Raymond police officer followed the Explorer into Jackson after the driver, Alice Marie Wilson, was suspected of driving reckless on Mississippi 18. When the Explorer crossed over into Jackson, the Jackson Police Department aided in the chase, but discontinued the chase after it was deemed unsafe, JPD spokesman Cmdr. Lee Vance said.

The Raymond officer continued to tail the SUV. Minutes after Jackson officers called off the chase, the Explorer crashed into the passenger side of a Nissan Sentra at Congress and Capitol streets. Clausell was in the front passenger seat of the Sentra. Raymond Police Department Chief Jason Crotwell was unavailable for comment on Sunday.

Commentary by Candy Priano: If officers continue to follow drivers who flee, these drivers will look in their rear-view mirrors and continue to drive recklessly because they perceive that the pursuit is still on and in reality, it is.

It is also too late to back-off when chases are approaching residential neighborhoods, schools, etc. The fleeing driver needs to believe the officers have really backed off before they drive in a safer manner and/or abandon the car. Officers must follow their pursuit policy.

Officers back off when they turn off their lights and sirens, turn around, and drive away in the opposite direction of the suspect. Backing off is most successful when it is done immediately. It is too late to back off when the pursuit is approaching a school zone, begins on busy streets, or the known driver is a flight risk, e.g., parolee, car thief, felon. When officers follow (even at a lower speed) the drivers believe they are still being pursued ... and they are being pursued.

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Missouri

November 8, 2007

Chris "Coop" Cooper, 17 Independence, MO	About Chris A riderless skateboard, pictures and dozens of candles were at the center of a vigil Friday for the teen killed during an Independence Police Department chase. "Everything is kind of overwhelming right now. And someone asked me, and all day, how do you feel? I don't know," Chris' brother Ryan Steeley said illuminated by candles. My brother was killed, he was 17 years old," Friends remembered "Coop" as a skater with a smile and for his ability to forge fast friendships. "Just seeing all the people throughout here just proves how much of a good person he is," one student recalled fighting back tears. "That he has this many people coming to say goodbye.	The Chase Chris was riding his bike when he was struck at 90 mph by a driver being chased by police. Police took two men into custody Thursday night in connection with the death of Chris Cooper, 17. Police said they chased the pair after they rammed a car on 39th and Lee's Summit Road and sped off. Wilfredo J. Pujols Jr., the driver of the car, was charged with second degree felony murder, resisting arrest, leaving the scene of an accident and driving while intoxicated. Pujols blood alcohol level was 0.97.

May 27, 2007

One Crash = Two Children Killed in Missouri

Stephen K. Hayes, 13, and
his friend, Christian Lackey, 12

 

KNOB NOSTER, Mo. (AP) -- The driver of a stolen pickup truck attempted to flee police and crashed into a tree along a highway, killing himself and his two young passengers, authorities said Monday. Read the rest of the story, right here.

 

September 20, 2006

Families troubled by findings September 30, 2006 Kansas City Star All Commentary by Candy Priano: If this chase did not violate policy, then the Kearney Police Department needs to change its policy: The chase lasted about 10 minutes along winding, hilly, two-lane roads with no shoulders. About three minutes into the chase, Hatfield radioed dispatchers that the car he was chasing was going about 100 mph. The car almost struck several vehicles and a maintenance worker, the report said. KMBC-TV9 KMBC's Martin Augustine reported this all started when Kearney police were called to a home on a domestic disturbance. When officers arrived, they spotted a car leaving the area. Authorities said the driver of the car refused to stop for police.

Kathryn "Diane" Morris, 32, Cameron & Clark A. Nelson, 26, Hamilton

Independent Investigation: Police Officer Involved in Deadly Chase Followed Standard Operating Procedures Oct 5, 2006 Commentary: This report, which is no longer available, told us nothing about the "independent" investigation of the Missouri Highway Patrol. It recaps what we already read in previous news stories about the crash but nothing about pursuit policy and nothing to prove whether or not the policy was followed. We do not even know who conducted the "independent" investigation and if independent people served on the investigation team.

 

March 2006

Pastor Nathaniel Cole, 56, St. Louis, Feb. 13

Families gather to heal in wake of fatal chase
St. Louis Post-Dispatch - St. Louis, MO - March 10, 2006 - Story no longer available
... the people involved in a deadly, fiery crash that followed a high-speed police chase ... if everybody puts their mouths and heads together - these chases are going ...

Fatal chase unnecessary


Elijah Cole, left, and Tina Cole Martin
are the children of the Rev. Nathaniel Cole.
(ROBERT COHEN/P-D)

 

July 10, 2003

Toni Sena

Four years ago a bicyclist named Toni Sena was killed on a quiet residential street in Kansas City by a motorist fleeing police. Her friends successfully lobbied the Board of Police Commissioners to change the policy on chases. Kansas City police now engage in pursuits only when there is a "reasonable belief that the suspect presents a clear and immediate danger to the safety of others.

On July 10, 2003, a jealous, intoxicated man purposely ran over his ex-girlfriend�fs boy friend in Overland Park, Kansas, a Kansas City suburb. The boy friend was not seriously hurt. The girl friend called the police and a chase ensued. The Kansas City, Missouri police took over when the chase drifted over the state line into Missouri. At the same time Toni Sena, her husband and a friend were leisurely riding their bicycles on a quiet neighborhood side street. They suddenly heard screeching tires and sirens. Within seconds, a white pickup truck careened around the corner, followed by pursuing police cars, and headed straight for the three cyclists. The husband and friend swerved right onto a yard. Toni tried to go left but had no time. The pickup struck Toni, throwing her over the hood. As she descended, she hit the hood and fell to the street. The driver ran over her and kept going. One police car stopped to give aid and the others continued the chase. Toni died at the hospital of internal bleeding shortly thereafter. The driver was soon arrested near his home a few blocks away. As Toni�fs friends, we were not only devastated, we were confused and angry. A few of us decided to direct these emotions toward a positive good. For weeks, we researched the topic of police pursuits around the country through the Internet and through phone conversations with experts, both citizen and police. Through a concerted effort the Kansas City Police Department and we have totally revised the KCPD Pursuit Policy and as a result Kansas City is a safer place to live today. (Source: pursuitwatch.org)

Police chase policies

I am outraged at the number of police chases in the area that continue to end in major injuries and death. As I drive and bicycle throughout the Kansas City area, I have come to fear the sound of approaching sirens.

The death of bicyclist Toni Sena four years ago as a result of a police chase of a drunken driver brought about a reform of the Kansas City, Mo., police chase policies. The many tragedies caused by police chases in other municipalities since have not resulted in such a change.

I urge the mayor of my city, Joe Reardon, and the police chief, Samuel Breshears, to lead the way to a reasonable citywide pursuit policy by initiating a meeting of mayors and chiefs of the metropolitan area. We have a right to expect responsible behavior from those who are charged to protect and serve.

Cris Siebenlist
Kansas City, Kan.

 

Study Missouri's Pursuit Practices

 

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Montana

No reports received.
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Nebraska

No reports received.

 

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Nevada

The National Highway Traffic Administration reported seven fatalities involving police in pursuit in 2006.
Five were innocent bystanders in another vehicle.

 

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New Hampshire

July 2006

Charles Jaynes Junior, 64, of Windham
CBS4boston.com — July 31, 2006
An innocent man is dead and other innocent victims injured after woman bolts from a traffic stop and crashes ...

December 2005

David Gonyer, 28, Laconia, Dec. 30, 2005

'Horrendous' crash started with a chase
Two Laconia men dead; police say pursuit ended before Route 3 collision
Concord Monitor,—Jan. 2, 2006
From the story: "Eyewitness accounts may contradict the police claim that Gladle wasn't being pursued at the time of the crash."

Registration problem led to fatal crash
Concord Monitor—Jan. 4, 2006

Crash victim's family hires attorney
Concord Monitor—Jan. 6, 2006

Registration stop led to fatal crash
Concord Monitor—Jan. 7, 2006

Man fleeing police hit another driving home
Concord Monitor—Jan. 16, 2006

Wrongful death suit filed in Laconia crash
The Citizen—Jan.7, 2007

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New Jersey

Jolene LaBar, 31
and her unborn baby
Date of crash: August 19, 2008 in Pennsylvania
Click here for stories on Jolene and her unborn baby.

Click

Miriam Avraham, 10
Date of crash: October 16, 2008

Miriam’s mother, Helene Avraham, holds Miriam's picture outside her Fair Lawn home.

Horror: 10-year-old Miriam Avraham killed for a piece of property October 16, 2008, New Milford, NJ: Miriam’s mother, Helene Avraham (holding Miriam's picture), burst into tears outside her Fair Lawn home as she described her daughter, a popular sixth-grader at the Solomon Schechter Day School in New Milford, as a joyful, well-rounded student whose vivacious personality could “fill up a room.” Avraham’s 14-year-old son Shachar, his voice cracking, said Miriam was his best friend. “We’re going to miss her so much,” he said. Hours before she died Thursday, Miriam had been ecstatic to learn she won the lead part of Golde in an upcoming school production of Fiddler on the Roof.

News Stories AOL News.com WCBS New York More stories, click here.

 

September 2006

Christina Becker, 19, Cape May County, Sept. 27 2006

Jacqueline Becker, 17, Cape May County, Sept. 27 2006

 

April 2006

Trooper Craig Todeschini, 25 , April 23

 

 

November 2005

Dennis Howard Jr., 13, East Orange, Nov. 5

More stories about Dennis are right here.

 

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New Mexico

No reports received

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New York

Karen Schmeer, 39
Date of crash: January 28, 2010

Karen Schmeer, 39

Police Chase Claims Life of Acclaimed Film Editor The New York Times January 31, 2010: What began with a report of three men shoplifting over-the-counter drugs from a CVS on the Upper West Side has ended with an arrest for the death of one of the nation's preminent documentary editors, whose credits include "The Fog of War."

News Stories OregonLive.com: Portland native Karen Schmeer, 39, remembered as loyal friend, talented film editor Death and life an editor: It was a freak hit-and-run accident just before 8 p.m.on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Karen Schmeer, on her way home from working on an HBO documentary about chess player Bobby Fischer, was crossing Broadway at 90th when she was struck by a rented 2010 Dodge Avenger, which was being pursued by police following a Zyrtec robbery at the CVS pharmacy on 86th and Amsterdam. More stories, click here.

 

July 25, 2007

Gabriel Bergianti, 27,
a member of the 427th Brigade Support Battalion of the Army National Guard.

A Suffolk police officer ran a red light to catch a motorcyclist and collided with Gabriel's car.

 

July 25, 2007

Gabriel Bergianti, 27,
a member of the 427th Brigade Support Battalion of the Army National Guard.

A Suffolk police officer ran a red light to catch a motorcyclist and collided with Gabriel's car.

December 28, 2006

A 1991 photo of William Calhoun, center, with his two sons,
Brian, left, and Chris, right. Calhoun was killed on his couch
when a man fleeing from police crashed into his home.

William Calhoun, 59, Long Island, Dec. 28, 2006

 

June 2006

Luis Jativa, 35, Brooklyn, June 14, 2006

The women called cops, and when they arrived the 58-year-old Queens man, who has at least seven prior arrests involving public lewdness, jumped into his van and fled, police said.

Commentary by Candy Priano: I am so tired of hearing about overcrowded prisons. Our cemeteries are overcrowded with innocent victims of pursuit. If they are bad enough to chase, they are bad enough to keep in jail.

May 2006

At least four innocent people injured in wild police chase
WABC 7Online.com — New York, NY — May 31, 2006
A wild car chase led police through parts of New York and New Jersey this morning.
The driver is ...

April 2006

Trooper Craig J. Todeschini, 25, New York State Police, April 23

On November 1, 2006 the "Trooper Craig Todeschini Bill" was passed into law, creating the crime of Fleeing from a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle. ...

Commentary by Candy Priano: My thoughts and prayers continue for Trooper Todeschini's family, and I support Trooper Craig Todeschini Law.

 

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North Carolina

December 1, 2007

My name is Elizabeth Lee. I am the older sister of Linsay and Maggie Lunsford. They were tragically killed on December 1, 2007. They were the innocent victims of a high speed police chase. My 18-year-old sister Linsay was driving (her 1999 Kia Sephia), and my youngest sister Maggie, 9, was riding in the back. They had been Christmas shopping. Linsay and Maggie died on impact. Then the cars caught on fire and burnt both cars. I cannot begin to tell you the hurt, but I know you understand. We have to make some change, this kind of thing, should not keep happening to innocent people. Thank you for your time. Love in Christ, Elizabeth Lee	About Linsay and Maggie Celebrating their lives Crash cuts promising lives short news-record.com GREENSBORO �\ "Linsay has 175 friends." On some Facebook profiles, that might look inflated. But people who knew UNCG freshman Linsay Erin Lunsford said she was the kind of young woman every teacher wants in class, and everyone who met her wanted to get to know her. Lunsford, 18, and her 9-year-old sister, Maggie Lunsford, were killed Saturday afternoon in Granville County when a man fleeing Franklinton police crashed into the car Lunsford was driving home from a shopping trip. In less than a semester at UNCG, Linsay, an honors student, had become active in student government, community volunteering and in the Make a Difference House, a special housing option for students who are passionate about community service. Little Maggie was involved in many things too. She had just participated in a Karate tournament that very morning. Read more.	The Chase N.C. officer on leave after fatal 90 mph chase By MARTHA QUILLIN The Raleigh News & Observer FRANKLINTON, N.C. — A Franklinton police officer and a driver he was chasing were traveling at 90 mph Saturday when the suspect crossed the center line on two-lane U.S. 15 and slammed head-on into another car, the N.C. Highway Patrol said Tuesday. The suspect and a pair of sisters traveling in the other car all died in the crash. Franklinton police procedures prohibit officers from chasing suspects at speeds exceeding the speed limit by more than 20 mph or at a pace faster than reasonable for existing conditions. The posted speed limit on the highway where the wreck took place is 55 mph. Read more.

February 2007

Leeanna Newman, 20, Feb. 6, 2007

Unborn Baby Girl of Bradley and Leeanna Newman, Feb. 6

http://www.wcnc.com/news/topstories/stories/wcnc-020707-hg-accident_rowan_update.5c238994.html

 

Woman, unborn child die after wreck
Driver being followed by police
STEVE LYTTLE
slyttle@charlotteobserver.com

WCNC.com Leanna Newman

A young Rowan County woman and her unborn baby have died as a result of injuries suffered in a collision Tuesday afternoon with a driver being followed by police.

Authorities in Rowan County say the driver was not being chased -- merely followed.

The victim was Leanna Newman, 20, of Salisbury.

The wreck happened on Main Street in Landis.

Police in Landis say the incident began unfolding in Kannapolis, however, where officers say they noticed a red Jeep -- driven by Rigo Berto Guillen Martinez, 33 -- being operated erratically. Police say the Jeep crossed the center line and was weaving.

Police say they began following the Jeep. Witnesses told WCNC-TV, the Observer's news partner, that the Jeep struck several vehicles before hitting the Saturn driven by Newman.

The collision happened on Main Street in Landis. Newman's car overturned several times after being hit.

Newman, her 3-year-old daughter and Martinez all were transported to North East Medical Center in Concord initially, but Newman and Martinez were transferred Tuesday evening to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. Newman and her unborn baby died overnight.

Martinez is in fair condition this morning.

Police say Newman's 3-year-old daughter was not seriously injured.

Investigators will have three issues to sort through today -- whether alcohol was involved; Martinez's status in the United States; and whether the death was the result of a police chase.

According to WCNC, Martinez had a Mexican driver license but not a N.C. license. Police have not said if alcohol was involved, or whether Martinez was in the United States legally.

Authorities also are expected to investigate whether police were chasing Martinez, although Landis officials said Tuesday that no high-speed pursuit was taking place. There have been several cases in recent months in which motorists being pursued by police struck and injured other motorists.

 

October 5, 2006

Lisa Knelson, 47 Durham, NC Special tribute to Lisa Knelson, 47, of Kildrummy Drive, Durham, a wife and mother who spent years working to help people with mental disabilities was killed Oct. 5, 2006, when a stolen car sped through a red light, police say. Police spokeswoman Kammie Michael said the driver was not being pursued by police at the time of the crash. It was reported that the officer knew the vehicle was stolen and attempted a traffic stop and did flash his lights. Cautious police policy won't pull danger off roads The Durham News Editorial ... A Durham Police Department officer spotted the stolen SUV on the ride that would end in a fatal collision. When the officer turned on his siren and lights, the stolen SUV sped away, and the police department's policy prohibited the officer from pursuing. .... (Candy Priano's response to the above editorial: Yes, we blame the driver first. However, did the officer expect the driver of a stolen vehicle to pull over appropriately? See a similar story: Kathryn "Katie" Bogosian-Langley. I also support Robert Knelson's plea to change the Interstate Compact (see letter at right.) Sentencing: Not Enough The driver of the car (Shawn Maurice Powell) who hit Lisa Knelson's car has now been convicted and is serving a 10 year sentence.

A Letter for Mommy by Robert John Knelson An excerpt from this letter written to 15 state representatives for the state of North Carolina (pdf): ... It is blatantly clear that the judicial system is broken in more ways than one.  Powell was not hard to find and violated his probation numerous times, which under normal circumstances would lead to a warrant for his arrest.  This cumbersome process of transferring interstate warrants needs to be revised.  Probation officers also need to be more carefully selected and need to have more pride in their work.  It is evident that Hager did not do his job thoroughly.  One action I suggest you take is to make sure that there is a review of the Interstate Compact Office in Raleigh.  More importantly,  a new interstate compact needs to be created so that if a warrant is requested with valid evidence for the need of it, the other state involved must grant and transfer the warrant within a certain period of time, such as two weeks. It should be easier for probation officers to directly obtain warrants from other states.  New legislation is required so that this system does not fail again and so that other families do not have to experience a similar loss. I believe that my father, Mark Knelson, sums it up best when he says, “I just think it’s sad that anybody’s life can be taken by somebody who should be incarcerated.”  My father also stated, “The fact of the matter is it’s difficult to blame him (Powell) because he’s demonstrated so many times he’s not a responsible person.  It’s really up to us, society, to keep him in a place where he can’t hurt people.” This is my plea for you to take action and to change the Interstate Compact so that as a result innocent victims are not harmed because a warrant is not transferred in due time.  My father will never again kiss his wife goodnight or look into her eyes.  My family has endured a lot, but we accept my mother’s death and know that we cannot change that.  What can be changed though is the Interstate Compact and the time allowed transferring a warrant from another state to North Carolina and that is what you need to do so that other families are spared.  Sincerely, Robert John Knelson

 

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North Dakota

No reports received

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Ohio

Johnny Kallmeyer, 54
Date of crash: September 2, 2007

Johnny Kallmeyer, 54, of Middletown, Ohio Link to family pictures.

News Stories Johnny's family spent Monday in court. View wcpo.com. Video of family who share their love for John. View wlwt.com. Video of fleeing driver in court. View wlwt.com. Reason for chase: Driver made U-turn at DUI checkpoint.

August 2007

Virginia DiGiorgio, 57, Grafton
The Plain Dealer — August 5, 2007
Commentary by Candy Priano: It's not worth it. Another innocent person is killed because police cannot figure out another way to catch someone driving a stolen car.

 

September 2006

Sheila J. Pierce, 51, Grafton
The Plain Dealer — Sept. 17
Fleeing DUI suspect crashes into car, kills innocent driver

March 2006

Grace Chamberlain, 18, Kirtland, March 2, 2006
Andrew Hopkins, 18 Warren, March 2, 2006

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Oklahoma

November 2005

Kent Edward Castleberry, 47, Oklahoma City, Nov. 19, 2005

Kent Edward Castleberry, 47, of Warr Acres died after the vehicle he was riding in was hit by a car being chased by Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers at NW 36 and May Avenue. Troopers said the chased vehicle ran a red light during the pursuit, which had started when troopers tried to pull over a car during the investigation of a stolen car ring. Troopers arrested the driver of the chased vehicle, Michael Wade Hixon, 29, of Blanchard.

October 2005

Sgt. Jonathan Paul Dragus, 32, Oklahoma City Police Department, Oct. 20, 2005

Source for the above information came from Bryan Dean, The Oklahoman, Pursuit Policies Studied

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Oregon

No reports received

 

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Pennsylvania

Jolene LaBar, 31
and her unborn baby
Date of crash: August 19, 2008

Crash victim Jolene LaBar a new bride, expectant mother Published: August 21, 2008 By Douglas B. Brill The Express-Times Jolene LaBar's family and friends spent Wednesday sharing stories at her parents' home, trying to accept what killed the bubbly newlywed who spent her last week telling people she was pregnant. The 31-year-old Washington Township, N.J., resident was on her way home from work when she died in Tuesday afternoon's double-fatal crash on Route 22. A man fleeing police drove the wrong way on the highway and struck her car. The family is frustrated with what started the chase. Police said Keith W. Messinger of St. Petersburg, Fla., who also died in the crash, was wanted for a theft. He was believed to have stolen a vacuum cleaner, according to a state police spokesman. "It's not understandable how three cop cars can chase one guy the wrong way over a vacuum cleaner," said Alla Weber, 30, of Hackettstown, LaBar's friend since they met at Warren Hills Regional High School. "It's $200. Let it go. You just lost a precious life that's more valuable than anyone can imagine."

Jolene LaBar, 31, of Washington Township, N.J.

News Stories Questions ... Questions now hang in the air after a high-speed chase and deadly head-on crash takes the lives of two people. Family, friends, and witnesses to the crash on Route 22 in Northampton County are still wondering why police went after a driver wanted for shoplifting. (Excerpt from The Express Times. This story is no longer available online. Several factors weigh in on police chases Two of those factors, the severity of the crime and traffic conditions, were critical in the Route 22 rush-hour chase that left two people dead Tuesday, but officers also are left to their own discretion in these types of cases. The Morning Call Links to other stories, click here.

 

May 28, 2007

Man Struck by Vehicle During Police Chase.
Read more, right here.


May 2006

Michelle A. Rankin, 35, Wilkinsburg, May 25, 2006
Jerome D. Smith, 34, Stanton Heights , May 25, 2006

November 2005

Newlywed Jorge Nazario, 25 of York
Google Search of Nov. 13, 2005 chase
Drama after hearing
The York-Dispatch, March 29, 2006

Study Pennsylvania's Pursuit Practices

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Rhode Island

No reports received

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South Carolina

Brenton James Winchester, 38
Date of crash: September 10, 2008

Father of two identifed as crash victim By Ron Barnett STAFF WRITER, Greenvill Online.com Brenton James Winchester, a 38-year-old father of two, has been identified as the [innocent] victim in a car crash that also killed a woman fleeing a deputy at high speed on State 183. Winchester, of 207 Bellewood Drive, Easley, was on his way to work at the time of the accident Wednesday night, said Pickens County Chief Deputy Coroner Kandy Kelley. He died at the scene, she said. The collision happened when Nicole Lynn Miller, 34, tried to pass another car while being pursued by a Pickens County deputy at the crest of a small hill, authorities said. She lost control of the car and slammed into Winchester’s vehicle, which was heading in the opposite direction, toward Greenville, they said. The two-minute pursuit topped 90 mph along a dark, hilly, two-lane highway, officials said. The Sheriff’s Office is awaiting a report from Highway Patrol investigators and hasn’t determined whether the pursuit was warranted, Sheriff’s Office Capt. Carl Hudson said. Miller was driving with a suspended license and was several hours late returning a car which a woman she worked for had let her use for an errand. The deputy, Travis Usrey, remained on active duty Friday, Hudson said. Born in Easley, Winchester was a maintenance technician at Bausch & Lomb and an avid hunter and fisherman, according to Robinson Funeral Home. Department of Natural Resources records show that he holds a state record for one of the top 100 deer killed in South Carolina, in November 1995. He told The Greenville News at the time that he killed the 10-point buck on public wildlife management land in Pickens County. He was a member of Rock Springs Baptist Church in Easley, where his funeral will be held today at 11 a.m. "They’re just a fine, outstanding family," Assistant Sheriff Tim Morgan said. Friends who posted condolences on the funeral home’s Web site recalled Winchester as a loving family man. "Our hearts are broken with yours today," Pastor Tim and Judy Lee wrote. "Brent was such a loving and kind Christian gentleman." He is survived by his wife, Tammi Boggs Winchester; a son, Justin; and a daughter, Laney. Staff writer Amy Clarke contributed to this report

News Stories Pickens chase under review Law officials reviewing tape of pursuit that ended with two dead By Ron Barnett STAFF WRITER, Greenville Online.com The state Highway Patrol and the Pickens County Sheriff's Office are reviewing a video of a deputy's high-speed pursuit that ended in two deaths, according to Assistant Sheriff Tim Morgan. "We're still gathering information," he said. "They were up all night so we still have to talk to officers." Deputies are trained to weigh the risk versus gain of conducting high-speed pursuits, Morgan said. "You consider all the factors -- the time of day, the traffic, school zones, the weather, the driving of the car you're pursuing," Morgan said. The chase that killed the fleeing driver, Nichole Lynn Miller, 34, of Marietta, and a driver of another vehicle whose name hasn't been released by the coroner, topped 90 mph, he said. The deputy was far enough behind to avoid the collision, Morgan said. Traffic was light -- two other vehicles besides the ones involved in the crash were on that nearly three-mile stretch of State 183 at the time, he said. After the wreck, another car crashed into a patrol car parked at the scene while the road was blocked, Morgan said. No one was injured but the driver was charged with DUI. At the scene Thursday, skid marks streaked across the highway at the spot where the collision occurred, and a few pieces of metal were strewn along the shoulder of the road. This was the 10th pursuit by Pickens County deputies this year, Morgan said. He wasn't sure if any of the others had resulted in accidents. The incident began when a Thomas Mill Road resident called the Sheriff's Office to make a "breach of trust" complaint, saying Miller hadn't returned with her car after three hours. Miller had been working as a caregiver for the resident, who had sent her to pick up a pizza and put gas in her car, Morgan said. Deputy Travis Usrey noted in his report that the resident and another person who had come to the house told him that Miller's driver's license was suspended. The Highway Patrol is investigating the accident, but won't make a determination as to the appropriateness of the pursuit, said spokesman Sid Gaulden. It could take up to a couple of months for its investigation to be completed, he said. Usrey remains on active duty, although he will be offered time off if he needs it, Morgan said. He has been with the Sheriff’s Office “a few years,” Morgan said. Links to other stories, click here.

 

Mike Wilson, 53, of Columbia

Study South Carolina's Pursuit Practices

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South Dakota

Deanna Mogck, 13, and Trevor Doering, 9.

The children's father kidnapped the children.

Read the story, right here.

 

 

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Tennessee

August 2006

Donna Lynne Wilson, 47, Mt. Juliet, June 8, 2006

Sean Paul Wilson, 38, Mt. Juliet, June 8, 2006

Add Donna and Sean Wilson of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, to the list of innocent Americans killed by drunk drivers in high-speed police chases. The Wilsons' deaths from a frontal collision in a June 8 DUI crash and police chase were entirely preventable and would never have happened if the government were doing its primary job of putting drunk drivers in jail the first time they get caught and deporting illegal aliens who continually break the law. The fleeing driver, an illegal alien, had 14 prior arrests (The Tennessean, 6/16/06).

June 2002

	Patrolman David John Scott Clarksville Police Department, TN EOW: Friday, June 7, 2002 Cause of Death: Vehicle pursuit
	Patrolman Yamil Baez-Santiago Clarksville Police Department, TN EOW: Friday, June 7, 2002 Cause of Death: Vehicle pursuit

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Texas

Erika Clouet, 24, and German Clouet, 23
Date of crash: September 1, 2008

Erika Clouet, 24, and German Clouet, 23 Dallas, Texas They were newlyweds, she a second-grade teacher, he an aspiring musician, enjoying the Labor Day weekend and driving home as a date at the movies.

News Stories Newlyweds Erika Clouet, 24, and German Clouet, 23, were on a date, returning home after an evening at the movies. Married just two months earlier, their lives and the years ahead of them were taken away. A chase for a suspected drunken driver in Dallas, Texas, September 1, 2008, ended in a fiery crash, involving the suspected drunken driver and the young couple. The crash seriously injured four others in another vehicle. The suspect is a repeat offender on all counts: DWI and fleeing from the police. Dallas police sheriff chases SUV, which then hits two other SUVs Outrage follows deadly crash, The Dallas Morning News, September 2, 2008 More stories, click here.

 

Dr. Wesley Gustafson, 75
Date of crash: July 28, 2008

Dr. Wesley "Dr. Gus" Gustafson, 75 Houston, Texas Gustafson grew up in Galveston, served in the Navy during the Korean War, and delivered more than 800 babies as a family doctor. "He loved everyone, with money or without," said Sharon Petree, Gustafson's former nurse. "He would treat people for free." His family practice started in Memorial Hospital Downtown, and continued until the day he died. During his practice of medicine, he delivered over 800 babies, and took care of all of his patients as though they were family. His bedside manner will be dearly missed by all those who experienced it. " Fox report: Suspect faces murder charge, click here. Links to other stories, click here.

Family, Friends Remember Innocent Man Killed In Chase By Elizabeth Scarborough, Click2Houston.com POSTED: July 29, 2008 HOUSTON -- Friends and family of an innocent man killed during a police chase Monday reflected on his life hours after his death, KPRC Local 2. Wesley Gustafson Jr. celebrated his 75th birthday this month. "He just turned 75, looking forward to 80," son Wesley Gustafson III said. A nearby store had surveillance of him walking from his red SUV Monday morning. "It's a very shocking experience," Wesley Gustafson III said. "I hope no other family ever has to go through this." Police said the chase lasted about 10 minutes. The suspect was speeding and hit two other cars during the pursuit, investigators said. The suspected burglar's car was initially recognized in connection with several burglaries in Harris County, detectives said. Investigators said the suspected burglar also had two warrants out for his arrest. One was from Louisiana. Police said the pursuit was within their chase policy. "We have a felon who chose to make that call," Lt. Bill Sala said. "He was not concerned about anyone else. Who knows how it far would have gone if he hadn't been stopped." Some of Gustafson's friends said that policy needs to be reexamined. "We can follow people until (they) run out of gas, but today an innocent man died," friend Dick Tindal said. "I think that's terrible." Police said they are reviewing the chase and their policy. The suspected burglar's identity has not been released, but police said he will face a felony murder charge. Copyright 2008 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved; reprinted with permission.

 

July 2007

Margarita Muniz, 44, Brownsville, July 10, 2007

The chase started when a deputy spotted a man getting out of the passenger side of a truck in the Cameron Park area. The passenger seemed suspicious, so the deputy pursued the truck.

Commentary: It's worth repeating. These violent crashes are not accidents.

News Channel 5

 

April 2007

Rikki Danielle Sanchez, 24, Houston, April 24, 2007

Rikki Danielle Sanchez leaves behind a husband, a 7-year-old son and a 4-year-old daughter. Houston Police chased the driver of a stolen vehicle.

April 2006

Brian Oliver Turner, 18

Jefferson County Chase Ends in Innocent Teenager`s Death
KBTV-4, April 9, 2006
"Brian was just a young man who was totally innocent, and now he`s lost his life," says Chief Bush.

Robberies, high-speed chase result in young man's death
ROLANDO GARCIA, The Enterprise April 10, 2006
... Because of traffic on the road - in particular, a convoy of motorcycles - the deputies in pursuit slowed down and kept their distance from the Honda in hopes the suspects would also slow down ...

Commentary: Most, if not all, restrictive pursuit policies, would validate this chase. The suspects had committed robberies with the use of a knife. My information comes from these two news reports, so my comments are based on these reports. First, I want to thank Chief Bush for referring to this innocent young man by his given name. Surprisingly, law enforcement officials typically refer to innocent victims of pursuit as "that woman," "that man," etc.

Second — and this is not a criticism of the officers involved in this chase — the public needs to understand that as long as the officers were behind the suspects, they most likely still considered that the officers were pursuing them. Researchers who have interviewed fleeing suspects report that as long as officers are still following, the suspects will not slow down. A pursuit is abandoned when the officers turn off their lights and sirens and turn around in the opposite direction of the suspect. Still, with the use of their radios, officers can initiate other resources to catch the suspect.

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January 26, 2006

Kyndall Batiste, 12,

The Stakes Have Risen

 

May 8, 2005

Denis Verdecia, 40
A wife and mother widowed on Mother's Day said she spent Monday choosing a headstone for her husband, an innocent victim killed when a fleeing driver in a stolen SUV ran a stop sign at an intersection.

Mr. Vedecia's family spent the day arranging for a funeral and trying to find the words to tell his 5-year-old son that daddy will not be coming home.

The above information is from khou.com

 

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Utah

Philemon Ellis, 62, and Jessica Nelson, 21

Study Utah's Pursuit Practices

No reports received

Virginia

April 2007

Campbell County Sheriff's Deputy Jason Lee Saunders, 24, Altavista, April 3, 2007

August 2006

Off-Duty Police Lt. James H. Sears, 38, Virginia, August 12, 2006

Douglas Brown Receives 20 Years for Deadly Police Chase
Posted: May 5, 2008 01:27 PM
Updated: May 5, 2008 01:28 PM

Associated Press - May 5, 2008 3:05 PM ET

COLONIAL HEIGHTS, Va. (AP) - A Barboursville man who led Chesterfield County police on a chase that ended in the death of an off-duty Colonial Heights police officer will spend 20 years in prison.

A Colonial Heights judge sentenced 37-year-old Douglas Michael Brown Jr. to 10 years each for involuntary manslaughter and felony hit and run and five years each for eluding police and being a habitual traffic offender. He suspended 10 years.

Brown was convicted in December in the August 2006 death of off-duty Colonial Heights police Lt. James Sears, during a 10-mile pursuit in Chesterfield County that reached speeds of up to 110 mph. Patrolman Haywood James III lost control of his cruiser while chasing Brown and slammed head-on into Sears.

Information from: Richmond Times-Dispatch, http://www.timesdispatch.com

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

March 2006

The following three stories were written by David Reynolds of the Daily News-Record, Virginia:

Cop involved in chase no longer on the force

Departments toughen rules for pursuit

Dorothy Swao, 35, is in critical condition

Commentary by Candy Priano: One thing I read in just about every news story when an innocent person is killed or injured is that officers must make the call to pursue by taking into account weather conditions, traffic, surroundings, time of day, etc. ... but do they? In California, an innocent father of three was facially disfigured for life when the chase ended in a fiery crash. The police decided to light up a known thief in a Sam's Club parking lot! Did the police really take into consideration their surroundings? Did they really think someone who is a criminal would pull over appropriately? When the story came out, the police said the pursuit did not last that long, less than a minute, somehow giving the impression that the length of the pursuit justified what happened to this innocent man's face. Of course the pursuit was short, look at the location: Sam's Club and one of the busiest intersections in the city! When the police received the call that this suspect was in Sam's Club, perhaps sending unmarked police cars and then following (not chasing) the suspect until he was no longer behind the wheel of a 5,000 pound "bullet" would have been a better strategy. Other units could have been out of site but kept apprised of the situation via radios. When the driver was no longer behind the wheel or near the car, the officers could have apprehended the suspect.

April 2005

Cynthia Booker, 57, Virginia, April 2, 2005

Study Virginia's Pursuit Practices

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Washington State

October 2006

Bobby Aguilar and Edgar Mendoza, both 19, Yakima, Oct. 22, 2006

Friends Bobby Aguilar and Edgar Mendoza were killed when their car was broadsided at a busy intersection in Yakima by the driver of a stolen car fleeing police. Another friend was badly injured.

The suspected driver of the stolen car, 20-year-old Blake Young, was jailed and is awaiting trial on charges of second-degree murder and vehicular assault.

Families say stiffer sentences will save lives
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

 

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Christopher Suydan is shown in 2000 with his children Octavia and Christopher. The children were on an outing with their dad. They were just steps in front of their father in a crosswalk when they were were killed in 2004 by a car fleeing District police. (Family Photo)

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Washington D.C.

Facts, Please
Washington Post Editoral
June 16, 2007

May 30, 2007

Motorcyclist in chase that led
to fatal Beltway wreck still on run

Sidney Clanton of Buffalo, N.Y., and Kevin McCarter, 40,
of Fort Washington were killed; 15 others injured.

A woman who identified herself as McCarter's wife
told The Examiner that she was too distraught to talk.
Read the complete story in The Examiner right here.

2 Killed, 15 Injured in Chain of Beltway Crashes

by Clarence Williams and Elissa Silverman
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, May 31, 2007

A police attempt to stop a speeding motorcycle touched off a gruesome series of collisions on both sides of the Capital Beltway in Prince George's County last night, killing two people and injuring 15 others, including two officers. ...

The force of the impact caused the car to go airborne over the median's guardrail and into oncoming traffic on the inner loop. That caused a chain-reaction crash involving five southbound cars.

The motorcycle sped off, and its driver remained at large, police said.

Read the complete story in the Washington Post right here.

LOOK HOW THE NEWS WAS SPREAD...
http://www.wftv.com/news/13417434/detail.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/05/31/national/main2869486.shtml

Kevin McCarter, 49, of Fort Washington and his friend Sidney Clanton Jr., of Buffalo were killed. Read more, right here.

 

September 11, 2004

Christopher Suydan is shown with his children Octavia and Christopher. The children, ages 8 and 7 respectively, were on an outing with their dad. They were just steps in front of their father in a crosswalk when they were were killed in 2004 by a driver fleeing District police. (Family Photo) Reason for chase: The officers chased a known drug dealer on a busy street at noon.

Commentary by Jim Phillips in 2004. Jim Phillips died in 2006. Jim Phillips of PursuitWatch.org comments on this chase: It is disputed by witnesses that Washington police had broken off the chase of a driver who had fled a scene of a "buy and bust" narcotics sting because, according to DC police spokesman Sgt. Joe Gentile, the suspect recognized the officers. Troubling enough, but a statement by Assistant Police Chief Peter Newsham is nothing less than shocking, "Even if police had violated the policy," Newsham said, "the officers would not be responsible for the children's death. The blame lies solely on the shoulders of the driver who was fleeing." Brings to mind the question-Why do the DC police even have Policies?" Read more of Jim's commentaries on other Outrageous Police Vehicular Pursuits, right here. Google: More stories on this chase

 

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West Virginia

No reports received

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Wisconsin

March 2003

Tina L. Brown, 26, Dane County, March 1

Dane County Sheriff's Deputy pursued a drunk driver.

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Wyoming

No reports received

 

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