TROUTMAN, N.C. (Dec. 29) - A car trying to outrun a police officer ran off a road and crashed early Monday, killing all seven teenagers inside, the Highway Patrol said.
The driver was identified as a 15-year-old, and the father of one of the victims said none of the teens had licenses and the group had been borrowing cars for joyrides.
A police officer from Troutman began chasing the car after seeing the 2001 Dodge Intrepid weaving in its lane, the patrol said.
"They passed us going 85 to 100 miles an hour with the police car passing us," said a witness, Brandon Jackson.
Troutman police Chief Eric Henderson said Officer Keith Bills chased the car for about a mile on U.S. 21 until it flipped over after hitting an embankment, crashed into a tree and then skidded to a stop upside down in a creek.
Bills, however, said he tried to stop the car only briefly, following it about 500 yards before it sped out of sight.
"It was swerving, slowing down and speeding up, just erratic driving," Bills told the Statesville Record & Landmark. Bills said he did not see the crash, but found the wreckage later.
The Highway Patrol identified the dead as driver John Lindsey Myers, 15, and passengers David Wayne Summers, 14, Quentin Maurice Reed, 18, Antonio Miller, 13, Domnick Hurtt, 17, Erica Stevenson, 15, and Antoinette Griffin, 13, all from Statesville.
All were pronounced dead at the scene, and none was wearing a seat belt, the Highway Patrol said.
This is such a highly debatable subject and those that are against police chases will always use the "I told you so" when there are fatalities as a result of a chase.
The fact is, without the ability for police to chase someone, everyone would run without fear of repurcusion.
If these kids got away, who thinks it's the last time they would have done this sort of thing? No, they would be thinking, 'this was easy. The cops can't even chase us'.
People, especially kids, have to know that if they take a car without permission and/or run from the cops, there is a chance that they could:
A: Get away
B: End up in jail
C: End up mangled
D: End up dead.
If there were absolutely no police chases, then that would most likely eliminate options B, C and D.
A stat that will never come up is how many times has someone NOT run from the cops even though it crossed their minds, but they knew they could end up as B, C and D.
Another issue of mention. The father of one of the victims said that "none of the teens had licenses and the group had been borrowing cars for joyrides."
No, if I go and ask my neighbour/friend if I can use his car to go to Auto Zone to get a new battery for my car, then I am BORROWING his car. The key issues being that I asked before using it, I am 32 years old, and I have a valid drivers license.
When a 13, 14 or 15 year old uses a car at random, whether it was a family members or just one they came across on the street, and they have no license, that is called theft.
I thought about posting this story when it happened , several days ago, but decided not too.
Well, it is not the cops fault. It is the kids fault, and they may not have deserved to die, but it is their own fault they are no longer here. I have absolutely no sympathy for them, or their families. What I always find amazing, is how parents of these losers try to justify their childrens wrong actions. We had a shooting the other night here, in front of a school, where the kids met up to settle a dispute over a broken window. Jeep all shot up, 1 dead, 2 others on hospital. Did I mention they met up at 3 a.m.? Throw their parents in jail too.
When I was a LEO we evaluated the charges against the offender and quickly ended pursuits if we only had traffic charges, to hopefully prevent what happened in this case from happening. If a pursuit lasts longer than 3 minutes the odds are someone will crash whether it be the perps or the Officer.
There is nothing that can be done other than stop the pursuit and have radio contact the next department about the offender.
Not having sympathy for the families of the dead is a harsh thing to say but being an armchair quarterback and never having faced the situation is easy.
What do kids know about life and how easy it is to die from bad decisions, not a thing.
A Parent burying their child is a horrible thing, no matter how death comes.
I thought about posting this story when it happened , several days ago, but decided not too.
Well, it is not the cops fault. It is the kids fault, and they may not have deserved to die, but it is their own fault they are no longer here. I have absolutely no sympathy for them, or their families. What I always find amazing, is how parents of these losers try to justify their childrens wrong actions. We had a shooting the other night here, in front of a school, where the kids met up to settle a dispute over a broken window. Jeep all shot up, 1 dead, 2 others on hospital. Did I mention they met up at 3 a.m.? Throw their parents in jail too.
I find this argument interesting. Prior to becoming a parent, I would hardily agree. It's the parents fault. Now, being a parent for almost 4 years, I have grave doubts concerning the simplicity of that response. In MOST instances, the parents are, certainly to some extent, at fault. BUT, not always. Sometimes you can do everything "right" as a parent and not incubate a good child. There's more to it than that. There's socio-economic issues, biological issues and random issues. I think that most parents would agree that it's just not all that easy to raise a completely responsible child. Despite ALL your parental efforts, your kid is going to make mistakes. I'd like to think that my daughter's mistakes will be the likes of getting home a half hour late from a party rather than stealing cars for killing joy rides...but that fear exists (to a minute extent) for me.
The previous is not stated to exonerate idiot (and ultimately self indulgent) parents. It is simply to suggest that it's way too easy and simplistic to say, "throw the parents in jail".
Happened in my back yard in NC. Lasted only 15 seconds so how can the police be at fault. Why is it in todays society no one can except responsiblity for their own actions. Yes they were all minors, so what. I knew what the hell I was doing when I was 15, no matter how juvenille, I knew there would be consequences for my actions. The police officer basically turned on his blue lights and the car took off, how is that his fault. Give me a break here. All the victims were black also, so I guess next it will be a race issue. Please, the kids made a stupid, all be it a tragic mistake. I would be horrified to lose a child like this but I would not blame the police in this case. I would blame myself for not knowing where my child was at 1 am.
Of all the arguments posted so far. I think you are headed the right way.
Question: Did any ofyou "borrow" your parents car for a little spin when you were under the age of 16?
I did. Not often. And I got caught once. I was so afraid I considered running away and joining the Navy.[img]/images/graemlins/laughing.gif[/img]
I would like to think I have been raised well. But there I was. "Borrowing" the jeep or the jag at 14 and 15.
And I can only wonder what I would have done at that age if a cop would have pulled me over.
Figure into the equation that I hung out with older kids and we always had dirt bikes. We would "avoid" the police all the time.
So put me in a "borrowed" car with some girls. At age 15. (The kid probably thought he was getting laid for this whole thing.)(Possibly for the first time).
At 15 every day is an adventure.
The adventure started when they all met up together. Then "borrowed" the car. When the cops hit the lights it was Hollywood Movie time, or possibly need for speed hot pursuit time. It was another part of the adventure.
It was a terrible thing. Im not sure where to point the finger.
Of all the arguments posted so far. I think you are headed the right way.
Question: Did any ofyou "borrow" your parents car for a little spin when you were under the age of 16?
I did. Not often. And I got caught once. I was so afraid I considered running away and joining the Navy.[img]/images/graemlins/laughing.gif[/img]
I would like to think I have been raised well. But there I was. "Borrowing" the jeep or the jag at 14 and 15.
And I can only wonder what I would have done at that age if a cop would have pulled me over.
Figure into the equation that I hung out with older kids and we always had dirt bikes. We would "avoid" the police all the time.
So put me in a "borrowed" car with some girls. At age 15. (The kid probably thought he was getting laid for this whole thing.)(Possibly for the first time).
At 15 every day is an adventure.
The adventure started when they all met up together. Then "borrowed" the car. When the cops hit the lights it was Hollywood Movie time, or possibly need for speed hot pursuit time. It was another part of the adventure.
It was a terrible thing. Im not sure where to point the finger.
No I didn't I wasn't a dumbass. Risking the chance of fucking up and not getting to drive my dad's toys when I got my licence was cause enough to wait till I got a licence. I'm glad I waited.
Parents are to blame? That's what REALLY wrong with the way ppl think today. EVERYONE is responsible for their OWN actions. Shit, at 6 years old I had a concious and knew right from wrong. The kids are the ones to blame. Did the parents tell them to go steal a car? Did the parents force them?
Shit, while we are throwing blame, lets blame the government for not paying the parents more money so they could give the kids a better homelife. Lets blame the terrorists for creating fear in the public and governemnt.. It's Osama Bin Ladens fault for funding terrorist... pathetic.
Everyone is responsible for their OWN actions and this world would be a better place if they realized it.
I know this may sound cruel, but they got what was coming to them. Dont take shit that isnt yours, dont drive without a liscense, wear your seat belt, dont run from the cops etc... They were ALL old enough to know right from wrong. They knew what they were doing when they took that car and sure as hell knew what they were doing when they ran from the cops. Yes, some of the fault is to blame on the parents. But, some kids NEVER learn, no matter what you teach them (sad, but true). Im with Craig, I dont really feel any sympathy for them. It is sad though that 7 young lives had to be taken because they wanted to experience the joy of taking a car (that didnt belong to them in the first place) and secondly running from the cops. That is just stupid judgement.
I thought about posting this story when it happened , several days ago, but decided not too.
Well, it is not the cops fault. It is the kids fault, and they may not have deserved to die, but it is their own fault they are no longer here. I have absolutely no sympathy for them, or their families. What I always find amazing, is how parents of these losers try to justify their childrens wrong actions. We had a shooting the other night here, in front of a school, where the kids met up to settle a dispute over a broken window. Jeep all shot up, 1 dead, 2 others on hospital. Did I mention they met up at 3 a.m.? Throw their parents in jail too.
I find this argument interesting. Prior to becoming a parent, I would hardily agree. It's the parents fault. Now, being a parent for almost 4 years, I have grave doubts concerning the simplicity of that response. In MOST instances, the parents are, certainly to some extent, at fault. BUT, not always. Sometimes you can do everything "right" as a parent and not incubate a good child. There's more to it than that. There's socio-economic issues, biological issues and random issues. I think that most parents would agree that it's just not all that easy to raise a completely responsible child. Despite ALL your parental efforts, your kid is going to make mistakes. I'd like to think that my daughter's mistakes will be the likes of getting home a half hour late from a party rather than stealing cars for killing joy rides...but that fear exists (to a minute extent) for me.
The previous is not stated to exonerate idiot (and ultimately self indulgent) parents. It is simply to suggest that it's way too easy and simplistic to say, "throw the parents in jail".
The 'throw parents in jail too' was meant about the one that happened here. Just from interviewing a witness, who was on the 'side' of the deceased/injured, there is more than this one instance. They want to look ghetto/gangish, hey, this is what happens. But, there would have to be past instances, that is why I said to throw the parents in jail also.
Socio-economic reasons? So if someone has no money, it is excusable to steal, prostitute, lie, cheat, etc.? NO!!!!!!
Biological issues? Having a foot in their ass would be better than the Prozac they are given. Granted, there are real biological issues, Tourrets(sp), but to place this label on all, or most, is a no-no. They are looking to excuse their own lack of responsibility.
I agree, everyone will make mistakes, but come on, do we not pursue a thief/robber/rapist/murderer because after all, it was a mistake? Some 'mistakes' have severe, even fatal consequences.
I have seen people grow up like their parents, and not like their parents.I have a feeling this was not the first time for these kids. Have the parents called the cops for their child's behavior? Did they try kid's homes? There are things that can be done, but blaming everyone else, when it is the kid's behavior, is not right.
When I get pulled over, and cops ask to search the vehicle, I say yes, when you show me a warrant. They said what are you hiding? I say if you had probable cause you wouldn't be asking me. They have never brought a dog to sniff, but if they ever did, my lawyers would be released on them. And I would make sure it would cost them alot of money.
TIEPILOT: Yes, armchair quartbacking sucks, should have done this, or that. But we have all had our experiences, and even though I would not wish death to them, they are the one's that brought it on themselves. Granted, I am not sorry it happened, But also I am not glad it happened, but it was something that should not have happened(by a different course of actions by the kids), but it did happen(they shouldn't have done what they did).
You know, with all the 'talk' we all do, I had the opportunity to shot/kill a rapist, but when he saw me running to him with a gun, he ran away, and I didn't/couldn't. I have been in other situations where I chose a different course of action, and let the person die, and I have no guilt to this day, nor do I believe I did the wrong thing.
With that being said, the kids should not have stolen a vehicle, should not have been in that vehicle, and should not have run away from the police. They were all old enough to know that it is wrong to steal. Everything else just played on what they should not have been doing in the first place.
I was so afraid I considered running away and joining the Navy.[img]/images/graemlins/laughing.gif[/img]
