Search fatalities

REASON FOR CHASE: Texas Department of Public Safety troopers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Villa's black 2010 Kia Optima at Old La Blanca Road and Mile 10 North Road. DPS did not publicly disclose the violation or other reason that prompted troopers to initiate the traffic stop.
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NARRATIVE:
On 01/29/2022, 29-year-old Jose Jaime Villa Martinez was killed when his vehicle crashed during a Texas Department of Public Safety pursuit near Weslaco in Hidalgo County. The crash occurred at approximately 1:07 a.m. Villa was the sole occupant of the vehicle.
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Before the crash, DPS troopers attempted to stop Villa while he was driving a black 2010 Kia Optima at Old La Blanca Road and Mile 10 North Road. DPS did not publicly disclose why troopers initially attempted the traffic stop.
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Villa continued driving away, and DPS troopers pursued him southbound on Mile 6 West Road, also known as Westgate Drive, at what DPS described as a high rate of speed.
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During the pursuit, Villa entered a construction zone on Mile 6 West Road. DPS reported that he lost control of the Kia and struck two mounds of gravel. The vehicle rolled over and came to rest on its left side. Villa suffered fatal injuries in the rollover.
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Villa was born in Mexico on August 20, 1992. He was married to Alondra Aguilar and was the father of six children. He was also survived by his mother, brother and two sisters. His Salinas Funeral Home obituary confirms that he died in Weslaco on January 29, 2022, at age 29.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
The Texas Department of Public Safety did not publicly identify the trooper or troopers who initiated and participated in the pursuit.

https://www.krgv.com/news/dps-investigating-fatal-single-vehicle-rollover/
https://www.krgv.com/news/dps-investiga-volcadura-fatal-de-un-solo-veh-culo-durante-la-noche
https://www.salinasfh.com/obituaries/jose-villamartinez

Carroll County deputy Noah Rainey and civilian sheriff's employee Dane Northcutt were driving to a backup call on Route 26 when for unknown reasons, the patrol car left the road and hit a utility pole, killing both the deputy and Dane Gregory Northcutt. No other vehicles were involved. It is unknown how fast the officer was driving.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/25902-deputy-sheriff-noah-rainey

REASON FOR CHASE: White Settlement police initiated the pursuit while attempting to apprehend the driver on a felony aggravated-assault warrant.
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NARRATIVE:
On 01/28/2022, an unidentified male driver was killed when his vehicle crashed in the 2600 block of Silver Creek Road in Fort Worth during a White Settlement Police Department pursuit. The crash occurred within Fort Worth city limits despite the pursuit being initiated by White Settlement police.
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White Settlement Police Department records identify the incident as the department's pursuit-related fatality of 2022. Police stated that the pursuit was initiated because the driver was wanted on a felony aggravated-assault warrant.
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The pursuit continued into Fort Worth and reached the 2600 block of Silver Creek Road. During the pursuit, the driver lost control and crashed. The driver was the vehicle's sole occupant and was ejected during the collision. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
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The White Settlement Police Department's annual reporting distinguishes this death from the city's separate fatal traffic crashes and records the January 28 incident as a pursuit-related fatality occurring within the City of Fort Worth.
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The driver's identity, age and race have not been established in publicly indexed records. Public records located also do not disclose the vehicle, location where police initially encountered the driver, pursuit speed, pursuit distance or duration, or the precise circumstances in which the vehicle left the roadway.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
The White Settlement Police Department did not publicly identify the officer or officers who initiated and participated in the pursuit.

https://www.wstx.us/
https://cdnc.heyzine.com/files/uploaded/v3/9eb929b4e9e0acc98ee174fa86843ce8703e0600.pdf
https://www.nhtsa.gov/research-data/fatality-analysis-reporting-system-fars

Ashley Ross, 30, was driving in Solano on January 28, 2022 when she was reportedly hit by a car being chased at high speed by a Solano PD vehicle. She died as a result. It is not known whether the car being chased was stolen.

https://napavalleyregister.com/community/eagle/news/police-driver-dies-from-fatal-crash-on-interstate-80-after-leading-american-canyon-officers-on/article_35b6d438-17cd-5d29-8b29-52f55c6466f7.html

https://napavalleyregister.com/community/eagle/news/oakland-woman-identified-as-driver-who-died-after-american-canyon-police-pursuit-and-crash/article_54db61ac-94d3-5dfd-a6c6-679d0e87361e.html

REASON FOR CHASE: Police pursued Ross after identifying the gray Toyota SUV she was driving as a vehicle reported stolen in Oakland. Ross initially stopped for officers but drove away when officers approached the SUV and ordered her to exit.
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NARRATIVE:
On 01/27/2022, 30-year-old Ashley Ross of Oakland was fatally injured when the gray Toyota SUV she was driving crashed off Interstate 80 near the Red Top Road exit in Solano County during an American Canyon Police Department pursuit. Ross was transported to a Fairfield hospital, where she died early on January 28.
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At approximately 10:30 p.m., American Canyon police received information that a gray Toyota SUV reported stolen from Oakland was believed to be in American Canyon. Officers located a vehicle matching that description traveling south in the 2500 block of Flosden Road. An officer checked the license plate and confirmed that it matched the Oakland stolen-vehicle report.
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Officers initiated a traffic stop, and Ross came to a complete stop on Fairgrounds Drive near Corcoran Avenue in Vallejo, just outside American Canyon. When officers got out of their patrol vehicles and directed Ross to exit the SUV, she accelerated south on Fairgrounds Drive.
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American Canyon police pursued Ross onto eastbound State Route 37 and then eastbound Interstate 80. American Canyon Police Chief Rick Greenberg said speeds during the freeway pursuit exceeded 100 mph. Police reported that freeway traffic was very light at the time.
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Near the Red Top Road exit in Solano County, Ross lost control of the Toyota. The SUV left the freeway, traveled over the guardrail and crashed. Ross, the vehicle's sole occupant, was ejected. No other vehicles were involved in the collision.
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An ambulance happened to be nearby and emergency personnel immediately provided medical aid. Ross was transported to NorthBay Medical Center in Fairfield, where she was pronounced dead early on 01/28/2022.
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The Solano County Coroner's Office subsequently identified the deceased driver as 30-year-old Ashley Ross of Oakland.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
The American Canyon Police Department did not publicly identify the officer or officers who initiated and participated in the pursuit.

https://patch.com/california/napavalley/high-speed-north-bay-pursuit-ends-fatal-crash-police
https://www.americancanyon.gov/Work/Local-Government/City-Manager/News-Updates
https://www.americancanyon.gov/Work/Local-Government/City-Manager/News-Updates/In-the-News
https://www.facebook.com/NapaValleyRegister/posts/ashley-ross-30-died-friday-in-a-fairfield-hospital-following-the-wreck-on-inters/10159798546213139/

Whitfield County deputies saw a silver BMW driven by Jeffrey Thomas drive too fast and commit traffic infractions and began a high-speed chase on I-75. An officer initiated a PIT maneuver at high speeds, causing the BMW to run off the road, hit a guardrail, flip over and eject Thomas who died as a result. No record can be found at this time that Mr. Thomas had been accused of anything other than speed.

https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/fleeing-driver-dies-after-chase-with-georgia-state-patrol-north-georgia/APAGDY2PQRGQZCIR2ILPSDPQEE/

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/georgia/articles/2022-01-24/man-dies-after-georgia-trooper-rams-his-vehicle-in-chase

https://newschannel9.com/news/local/family-demands-answers-after-24-year-old-is-killed-in-catoosa-county-pit-maneuver-chase

REASON FOR CHASE: Passenger killed after Wilbraham police attempted to stop the vehicle driven by Kevin Servantez. Servantez continued driving and was subsequently charged with refusal to stop for police, speeding, OUI, negligent operation and motor vehicle homicide by reckless operation.
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NARRATIVE:
On 01/23/2022, 43-year-old Michael James Edgett of Hampden was killed when the vehicle in which he was a passenger crashed near 967 Main Street in Wilbraham after police attempted to stop the driver. The fatal crash occurred at approximately 1:30 a.m.
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Edgett was riding with Servantez of Hampden when Wilbraham police escalated a chase.
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The vehicle crashed near 967 Main Street in Wilbraham. Edgett suffered critical injuries and was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Servantez survived and was hospitalized with injuries described as not life-threatening.
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Edgett graduated from Cathedral High School, where he played varsity soccer and hockey, and later worked for MassMutual as a system support specialist. He continued playing hockey in a Wednesday-night men's league and enjoyed construction and renovation projects and spending time at his family's camp, Lil' Acres, in Conway. He was the father of two daughters, Lyndsey and Kylie.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
The Wilbraham Police Department did not publicly identify the officer or officers who attempted to stop Servantez.

https://dailyvoice.com/ma/springfield/police-fire/man-charged-in-hampden-county-crash-that-killed-passenger-police-say/824649/
https://obits.masslive.com/us/obituaries/masslive/name/michael-edgett-obituary?id=32405161
https://www.wilbraham-ma.gov/177/Police-Reports 

An LAPD helicopter and an unknown presence of squad cars hunted a fleeing motorcycle at high speed until the driver crashed at 130 mph and died. The motorcycle had been alerted as stolen by the squad car’s ALPR license plate reader.

https://twitter.com/kcalnews/status/1484279564423483395

https://nypost.com/2022/01/20/motorcymotorcyclist-fleeing-lapd-dies-in-horrendous-crashclist-killed-in-lapd-pursuit/

This is the second crash fatality from the accident involving officer Carille Cortez Jones of Memphis PD whose cruiser collided with an unknown blue car whose driver was widely reported as having been killed but was never named by the PD.

Police Officer CJ Jones was killed in a vehicle crash at the intersection of East Shelby Drive and Pleasant Hill Road at about 2:30 am. He was responding to a call when colliding with 2 other vehicles with significant impact and speed unknown. The driver of one of the other cars was killed. This page is dedicated to that motorist.

https://tri-statedefender.com/remembering-officer-cj-jones/01/31/

On 01/20/2022, Florida Highway Patrol troopers attempted to stop a vehicle near FL-2 and County Road 127 in Sanderson. The driver continued driving and troopers escalated a pursuit. During the chase, the vehicle left the roadway and crashed. Twenty-three-year-old Hunter Combs died at the scene from injuries sustained in the crash. Authorities reviewed the pursuit under standard protocol.

https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/baker-county-driver-killed-after-fhp-pursuit/
https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2022/01/20/driver-dies-after-crash-following-fhp-pursuit-in-baker-county/

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REASON FOR CHASE: San Diego police attempted to stop the motorcyclist for speeding in the 3400 block of Orange Avenue. The rider continued driving away after officers initiated the traffic stop.
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NARRATIVE:
On 01/20/2022, a 30-year-old man was killed when his motorcycle crashed during a San Diego Police Department pursuit in the Mid-City area of San Diego. The crash occurred between the North Park and Corridor neighborhoods shortly after police attempted to stop him for speeding.
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At approximately 1:44 a.m., San Diego Police Department Mid-City Division officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the motorcyclist in the 3400 block of Orange Avenue after police alleged that he was speeding. The rider continued away and officers pursued him.
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The pursuit continued into the area of Lincoln Avenue and University Avenue. In the 3300 block of Lincoln Avenue, the motorcycle struck a curb. The rider then collided with a metal guardrail and was ejected from the motorcycle.
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The motorcyclist suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police reported that he was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
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Contemporary reporting identified the deceased only as a 30-year-old man. No reliable later public source located identifies him by name. The available reporting also does not disclose the pursuing officers, pursuit speed, pursuit distance, or duration.
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The San Diego Police Department did not publicly identify the officer or officers who initiated and participated in the pursuit.
POLICE-RELATED STATUS: CONFIRMED. The 30-year-old motorcyclist was killed during a San Diego Police Department pursuit initiated for alleged speeding.

https://fox5sandiego.com/traffic/motorcyclist-dies-in-crash-during-police-chase/

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/public-safety/story/2022-01-20/motorcycle-rider-dies-after-crashing-while-fleeing-police-in-city-heights

Charles County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to initiate a traffic stop, allege that the car pulled into a parking lot but reversed. The car left the parking lot at a high rate of speed and deputies escalated a chase which led to a crash with a third-party vehicle. The fleeing driver was injured but third-party driver Inga Pearson, 52, of Washington, DC was found near her vehicle with life-threatening injuries and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/local-news/maryland/officer-and-victim-identified-in-fatal-police-chase-crash/

https://www.somdnews.com/independent/news/local/woman-who-died-after-charles-police-chase-identified/article_ef0faa5f-c25a-5f58-8044-bd3b713058d0.html

https://wtop.com/charles-county/2022/02/dashboard-camera-footage-shows-police-chase-thats-being-investigated-by-maryland-ag-office/

Baldwin County deputies were on foot patrol at 1:30 a.m. and saw a "suspicious person" walking on the road. When deputies approached him, he allegedly produced a gun and fired at deputies. Two deputies shot and killed him. No verification of this police narrative is possible on open records search.

https://mynbc15.com/news/local/large-law-enforcement-presence-shuts-down-county-rd-47-in-perdido

REASON FOR CHASE: Bystander killed during pursuit of a 15-year-old driver whose vehicle was wanted in connection with a felony in Contra Costa County.
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NARRATIVE:
On 01/16/2022, 37-year-old Reginald Hill was killed when his vehicle was struck by a vehicle being pursued by law enforcement at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Lincoln Street in Stockton. Hill was an uninvolved motorist. The San Joaquin County Coroner's Office subsequently identified him.
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At approximately 10:20 a.m., San Joaquin County sheriff's deputies were attempting to apprehend a vehicle wanted in connection with a felony in Contra Costa County. Police said the vehicle was traveling erratically and at high speed while heading east on Charter Way.
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A Stockton Police Department officer observed the vehicle and engaged it to assist the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office. Shortly afterward, the pursued vehicle collided with Hill's uninvolved vehicle at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Lincoln Street.
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Emergency medical personnel responded to the intersection, but Hill suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Video from the aftermath showed one of the vehicles overturned and both vehicles with substantial collision damage.
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The pursued driver was a 15-year-old juvenile. He was injured in the collision, transported to a hospital, and subsequently booked into San Joaquin County Juvenile Hall on an allegation of vehicular manslaughter.
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The fatal incident prompted a multi-agency critical-incident investigation involving the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office, Stockton Police Department, San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office, San Joaquin County Medical Examiner and California Highway Patrol.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office and Stockton Police Department did not publicly identify the deputy or officer involved in the pursuit.

https://www.kcra.com/article/1-killed-deadly-stockton-crash-police-say/38786566
https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/man-killed-15-year-old-driver-during-police-chase-stockton/
https://www.ktvu.com/news/underage-driver-allegedly-kills-man-while-fleeing-police
https://eastcountytoday.net/man-killed-by-15-year-old-driver-out-of-contra-costa-county-during-police-chase-in-stockton/

Houston PD attempted to traffic-stop a vehicle that continued to speed. Police escalated a chase, allege that they “lost sight of” a vehicle and came upon it crashed against a tree. A man who was the sole occupant was dead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QZ5bEbIn6Y

According to the LaGrange Police Department, at about 3 p.m. Friday in LaGrange one of its officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by a man wanted for an unnamed offense. The person took off and police chased the man east of LaGrange on U.S. 20. East of the intersection of U.S. 20 and S.R. 3, the vehicle crashed, overturned and Daniel T. Olson was ejected from the vehicle and was later pronounced dead.

https://www.kpcnews.com/newssun/article_bce748fd-901c-5689-bfa6-e795809899f9.html

https://www.21alivenews.com/2022/01/16/one-dead-crash-indiana-toll-road/

REASON FOR CHASE: Passenger killed during pursuit initiated after LaGrange Police Officer Eric Patterson observed the minivan driver pull into traffic without yielding and then run a stop sign. Patterson activated his emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop, and the driver accelerated away.
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NARRATIVE:
On 01/14/2022, Paul Bennet Jr. was killed while riding as a passenger in a minivan that crashed during a LaGrange Police Department pursuit in LaGrange County. A later Indiana Court of Appeals decision provides a detailed reconstruction of the pursuit and confirms Bennet's identity and death.
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LaGrange Police Officer Eric Patterson initially observed Bennet get into the rear of a minivan driven by Marcus Jermaine Rozier. Patterson then saw Rozier pull into the street in front of other vehicles without yielding and drive through a stop sign without stopping. Patterson activated his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop.
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Rozier accelerated away. The pursuit continued onto U.S. Highway 20, where the minivan traveled left of the center line and caused other motorists to leave the roadway to avoid collisions. The pursuit continued for approximately ten miles and reached speeds approaching 115 mph.
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After approximately ten miles, the minivan left the roadway and struck what investigators believed was a ditch or culvert. The impact launched the vehicle into the air, and it flipped and rolled.
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Bennet was ejected during the crash. Officers found him approximately 25 feet from where the minivan came to rest, and he was dead at the scene. Another passenger, April McBride, remained inside the vehicle and suffered severe injuries, including multiple broken and shattered ribs, a broken leg, severe concussion and internal bleeding.
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Rozier survived the crash. Patterson saw him exit through a missing side door and run from the wreck. Another responding officer released police dog Dax, after which Rozier stopped and was taken into custody. A subsequent blood test showed amphetamine in Rozier's system.
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Later federal court proceedings disclosed additional information about events preceding the pursuit. Patterson had earlier been dispatched to Interra Bank concerning a potentially fraudulent check involving Bennet. Patterson spoke with Bennet and took possession of a $4,000 check but did not arrest him. Patterson subsequently saw Bennet enter the maroon minivan and later reestablished visual contact with it. Dash-camera video introduced in federal court showed torn checks being thrown from the minivan during the pursuit as the vehicle reached approximately 115 mph.
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Rozier was prosecuted in LaGrange County for offenses arising from the pursuit and crash. A jury convicted him of Level 3 felony resisting law enforcement causing death, Level 4 felony causing death while operating a vehicle with a Schedule I or II controlled substance in his blood, and two additional felonies associated with McBride's serious injuries. He received an aggregate 35-year prison sentence. The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed his convictions and prison sentence in 2024.
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The court record also establishes that the pursuit was captured by Patterson's police dash camera. Body-camera footage from K-9 Officer Tyler Smoker documenting the immediate aftermath and Rozier's apprehension was introduced during related federal proceedings.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Eric Patterson was a LaGrange Police Department officer who initiated and conducted the pursuit.
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https://public.courts.in.gov/Decisions/api/Document/Opinion?Id=I7c-wXQcfmyp97zmCaWztvdVWPFF0KiQ017gaMSW4-jJtpD_eISAH2rDQpKOAxu10
https://law.justia.com/cases/indiana/court-of-appeals/2024/23a-cr-02506.html
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/in-court-of-appeals/116635149.html
https://www.leagle.com/decision/infdco20240823b27

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REASON FOR CHASE: Forsyth County sheriff's deputy alleged that Mize was driving unsafely and repeatedly failing to maintain his lane. The deputy attempted a traffic stop, and Mize continued driving away at high speed.

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NARRATIVE:
On 01/14/2022, 49-year-old Randall Lamar Mize Jr. of Sugar Hill was killed when his vehicle crashed during a Forsyth County Sheriff's Office pursuit in Forsyth County. Contemporary reporting and later records identify Mize as the driver killed in the incident. His obituary independently confirms that he died on January 14, 2022.
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The encounter began when a Forsyth County sheriff's deputy observed Mize driving and alleged that he was operating the vehicle unsafely and repeatedly failing to maintain his lane. The deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop. Mize continued driving away, and the deputy pursued him.
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The pursuit continued onto Buford Dam Road. During the chase, Mize lost control of his vehicle near Rockport Drive and crashed. The collision caused fatal injuries. The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office investigated the fatal wreck. Contemporary Forsyth County News reporting confirms that the sheriff's office was investigating a fatal crash on Buford Dam Road early that Friday morning.
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Mize was pronounced dead following the crash. Funeral records identify him by his full name, Randall Lamar Mize Jr., age 49, of Sugar Hill, and confirm his January 14 death. Funeral services were held January 21 at Flanigan Funeral Home in Buford.
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Public reporting described the underlying driving behavior as potentially DUI-related, but the available records do not establish a completed toxicology result or criminal finding because Mize died in the crash.
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The available public record does not identify the pursuing deputy by name. No reliable source located provides the pursuit speed, duration, distance, or whether supervisors considered terminating the pursuit before the fatal crash.

https://www.appenmedia.com/public_safety/driver-dies-in-crash-following-police-chase/article_dd66b98a-77ad-11ec-a07d-8ffe093b9123.html
https://www.forsythnews.com/news/public-safety/fcso-investigating-fatal-wreck-buford-dam-road/
https://patch.com/georgia/cumming/police-fire?page=3
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/gainesvilletimes/name/randall-mize-jr-obituary?id=32283311
 

On January 13, 2022, a sheriff’s deputy in Louisiana was pursuing a robbery suspect when the deputy’s patrol car collided with the vehicle of a woman who was uninvolved in the pursuit. The impact killed the woman at the scene and injured two children who were in the vehicle with her. The deputy was also injured and hospitalized. The case was turned over to state authorities for investigation to determine whether pursuit protocols were properly followed.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/woman-dead-children-injured-car-crash-deputy-chasing/story?id=82249303

Henderson Police were involved in a fatal pedestrian crash around 7:30 p.m. in the area of Boulder Highway and Tulip Falls Drive. An on-duty Henderson Police Department officer was reportedly traveling southbound in the area when they hit a female pedestrian. The Clark County coroner did not publicly identify her. Officer Shipp who was driving the police vehicle has a previous misconduct record.

https://ericroylawfirm.com/las-vegas-nv-woman-killed-in-boulder-hwy-pedestrian-wreck-involving-police-cruiser/

https://www.8newsnow.com/news/police-id-on-duty-officer-who-hit-woman-crossing-boulder-highway-las-vegas/

https://www.ktnv.com/traffic/traffic-shut-down-on-boulder-highway-at-gibson-road-after-crash

https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/henderson/henderson-police-identify-officer-who-struck-killed-pedestrian-2513035/

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REASON FOR CHASE: Bystander killed during pursuit of a man police linked to armed robberies at an Exxon gas station and CVS Pharmacy. A Harris County sheriff's deputy attempted to stop the vehicle after seeing a man leave the CVS wearing a mask and enter a vehicle matching the description broadcast to deputies.

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NARRATIVE:
On 01/12/2022, 22-year-old Autrey Faith Simone Davis was killed when a Harris County Sheriff's Office patrol vehicle driven by Deputy Dontre Thomas crashed into her Kia Borrego during a high-speed police pursuit at Laura Koppe Road and Lockwood Drive in northeast Houston. Davis was traveling with her two young children and was not involved in the pursuit.
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The pursuit began after robberies at an Exxon gas station and a CVS Pharmacy. Authorities said Thomas saw a man leaving the CVS wearing a mask and entering a vehicle matching the description associated with the robberies. When Thomas attempted to stop the vehicle, its driver continued away and Thomas pursued. The driver was later identified as DaVonte Williams.
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Investigators said the pursuit reached speeds exceeding 80 to 90 mph. Shortly before 11 p.m., Thomas was driving his marked patrol vehicle eastbound on Laura Koppe Road with its emergency lights and siren activated when he entered the intersection with Lockwood Drive.
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Davis was driving her black Kia Borrego northbound on Lockwood Drive when Thomas' patrol vehicle struck her vehicle. The impact caused Davis' Kia to roll over and collide with a white Acura TLX and a white Mitsubishi sedan. Thomas' patrol vehicle continued into a nearby parking lot, struck several additional vehicles and caught fire. The collision ultimately involved seven vehicles.
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Davis was pronounced dead following the collision. Her two children were injured. Her young son, Kyle Johnson, suffered particularly severe injuries and required multiple brain surgeries. Davis' daughter was also hospitalized.
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Bystanders pulled Thomas from his burning patrol vehicle. He was hospitalized with serious injuries, including a broken hip. Williams was not involved in the collision and continued away from the scene. He was arrested the following day.
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Williams was charged federally with interference with commerce by robbery and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Harris County authorities also pursued charges including aggravated robbery and evading arrest resulting in death.
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The Houston Police Department Vehicular Crimes Division investigated the fatal collision. The Harris County District Attorney's Office also investigated Thomas' conduct and presented the case to a grand jury. On June 28, 2022, the grand jury declined to indict Thomas in connection with Davis' death. .
OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Deputy Dontre Thomas was 24 years old and had been with the Harris County Sheriff's Office for approximately three years at the time of the fatal pursuit. Records obtained after Davis' death showed that Thomas had previously been disciplined for violating the sheriff's office pursuit policy.
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On March 24, 2021, Thomas participated in an earlier vehicle pursuit. An internal investigation determined that he violated department policy during that pursuit, and in July 2021 he received a written reprimand and was ordered to complete a driver-safety course. The January 2022 crash that killed Davis occurred approximately six months after that discipline.
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Following Davis' death, the Harris County Sheriff's Office opened another internal investigation into Thomas' actions. Later reporting states that Thomas was subsequently fired from the sheriff's department.
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The fatal crash was captured by surveillance video, and Davis' family, represented by attorneys Ben Crump and Andy Rubenstein, publicly sought release of Thomas' dash-camera footage and questioned the necessity and speed of the pursuit.

https://www.houstontx.gov/police/nr/2022/jan/nr011322-1.htm
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2022/01/13/pursuit-involving-robbery-suspect-ends-up-in-crash-that-kills-woman-injures-2-children-deputy-in-ne-houston-hpd/
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/crime/article/Woman-dead-after-vehicle-pursuit-of-suspected-16772354.php
https://abc13.com/post/davonte-williams-autrey-davis-cvs-robbery-suspect-arrest-deadly-chase/11468447/
https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Harris-County-cop-who-crashed-killed-young-16813720.php
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2022/07/14/harris-co-deputy-issued-no-bill-after-high-speed-chase-claims-life-of-23-year-old-mother/
https://abc13.com/harris-county-deputy-involved-crash-fatal-innocent-driver-killed-in-during-chase/12049526/
https://abc13.com/houston-crime-autrey-davis-mom-killed-in-crash-child-hospitalized-after-fatal-car/11506331/
 

A Houston PD deputy was chasing a robbery suspect and speeding when he drove through an intersection and crashed with another car, starting a chain reaction of 7 vehicles being involved in the crash. Autrey Faith Simone Davis was killed and two children, about 5 and 3 years old, were injured with the oldest being in critical condition. The 3-year-old died later.

https://www.kolotv.com/2022/01/13/police-chase-ends-with-deadly-7-car-crash-houston/

https://abcnews.go.com/US/woman-dead-children-injured-car-crash-deputy-chasing/story?id=82249303

Lumberton police chase vehicle for unknown reasons at high speed until it struck a KFC sign and ejected two of the three occupants of the vehicle. A 21-year old man sustained life-threatening injuries and was flown to the hospital with unknown survival outcome. A 33-year-old man, Anthony Gerald, was killed.

https://www.wmbfnews.com/2022/01/12/one-dead-two-injured-after-high-speed-chase-ends-crash-nc/

On 01/12/2022, Kansas Highway Patrol troopers pursued a vehicle near US-50 and Road F in Gray County. Troopers escalated the chase after the driver continued driving. During the pursuit, the vehicle crashed. Twenty-seven-year-old Megan Triplett, who was riding in the vehicle, died from injuries sustained in the collision. Authorities reviewed the pursuit under department policy.

https://www.kake.com/story/45638357/passenger-dies-after-highway-patrol-pursuit-in-gray-county
https://www.ksn.com/news/local/passenger-killed-after-khp-pursuit-crash/

On 01/12/2022, off-duty Polk County Sheriff’s Deputy Joshua Roelofs drove a pickup truck eastbound on the Courtney Campbell Causeway in Clearwater. Prosecutors allege Roelofs was driving under the influence and at excessive speed when he lost control of his vehicle, crossed the median, and crashed head-on into another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. The violent impact crushed the passenger compartment of the oncoming vehicle and killed 33-year-old Jessica Reisinger. Another victim in the struck vehicle was seriously injured.
Investigators reported Roelofs left the United States after the crash and traveled to Colombia. Authorities later arrested him and returned him to Florida to face charges. He is charged with DUI manslaughter and related offenses. In February 2026, jury selection began in his criminal trial. Prosecutors allege reckless driving, intoxication, and extreme speed caused the fatal collision. Defense attorneys dispute the degree of impairment and causation.

https://www.aol.com/news/trial-begins-ex-deputy-accused-233931650.html

REASON FOR CHASE: Traffic stop; police said officers attempted to stop the driver before the fatal crash. Huntersville police stated that officers were not pursuing the vehicle when it crashed.
NARRATIVE:
On 01/11/2022, an unidentified male driver was killed in a single-vehicle crash on North Old Statesville Road near Stumptown Road in Huntersville, Mecklenburg County. The crash occurred shortly before 2 a.m.
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According to the Huntersville Police Department, officers had attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle earlier but were unsuccessful in stopping the driver. Police subsequently responded to the crash on North Old Statesville Road.
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Huntersville police said officers were not chasing the vehicle when it crashed. Police said speed was a factor in the collision. The vehicle left the roadway, and responding officers found that it had caught fire.
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The driver was ejected from the vehicle during the crash. MEDIC responded and the man was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported.
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North Old Statesville Road was closed between Stumptown Road and Ramah Church Road for several hours while authorities investigated the fatal crash.
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Contemporary reporting did not publicly identify the driver. The available reports also do not state why Huntersville police initially attempted the traffic stop, how much time elapsed between the attempted stop and the crash, or how far the vehicle traveled before crashing.
POLICE-RELATED STATUS: CONFIRMED. Huntersville police confirmed that officers attempted to stop the driver before the fatal crash, while also stating that officers were not actively pursuing the vehicle when it crashed.

https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/deadly-early-morning-crash-blocks-busy-huntersville-road/SH2Q43EHA5FPXH2VTAWJRABTRU/
https://www.wbtv.com/2022/01/11/one-killed-crash-old-statesville-road-huntersville/
https://www.nhtsa.gov/research-data/fatality-analysis-reporting-system-fars

Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department chased a stolen vehicle into a crash at the intersection of Tuckaseegee Road and Daleview Drive killing third party motorist Micky Brown while 2 passengers in his car were seriously injured.

https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/teen-faces-murder-charge-after-car-chase-ends-deadly-west-charlotte-crash-officials-say/GV6VTJBOMJDJDM4PYAIW4SE56Q/

https://www.thelegaladvocate.com/news/breaking/micky-brown-killed-tuckaseegee-road-daleview-drive-charlotte

On 01/10/2022, 12-year-old Vana Marie Redd was struck and killed by a Red Oak Police Department patrol vehicle driven by Officer Reece Anderson on North Broadway Street near Joy Street.
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Anderson was one of three Red Oak police officers responding to an apartment fire at Acorn Acres. The Iowa State Patrol reported that Anderson was driving north with emergency lights and siren activated when Redd entered the roadway and was struck by his police SUV. She died at the scene.
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Anderson was 22 and had served with Red Oak police for approximately two years. He was placed on paid administrative leave while the Iowa State Patrol investigated the crash.

https://accidentreports.iowa.gov/index.php?caseno=2022000751&pgname=minimal_ar
https://www.3newsnow.com/news/local-news/red-oak-police-iowa-state-patrol-investigate-crash-involving-officer-and-a-child
https://westerniowatoday.com/2022/01/11/red-oak-fatality-accident/
https://www.ketv.com/article/she-was-an-amazing-girl-friends-remember-12-year-old-killed-in-red-oak-crash/38740105

Saul Betancourt was on River Road and Villa Manuchua Road in Newman, making a left turn across the intersection when officer Eric Fulmer crashed into him at 120 miles an hour without lights or a siren in fog. The district attorney nevertheless refused to prosecute the officer.

https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/stanislaus-county-deputy-who-was-going-over-120-mph-before-deadly-crash-fired/

https://amp.sanluisobispo.com/news/california/article273556820.html

https://ca.style.yahoo.com/style/stanislaus-deputy-found-primarily-fault-120000516.html#:~:text=Meanwhile%2C%20Betancourt's%20parents%20and%20his,for%20wrongful%20death%20and%20negligence.

Event: Passenger killed by police chase crash
REASON FOR CHASE: Passenger killed during pursuit initiated after Lake County sheriff's deputies attempted to stop the Audi in which she was riding for speeding and running a red light near 25th Avenue and Broadway in Gary.
NARRATIVE:
On 01/07/2022, 20-year-old Britney Griffin of Matteson, Illinois, was killed during a Lake County Sheriff's Department pursuit in Gary. Griffin was the front-seat passenger in a black 2010 Audi A5 driven by 21-year-old Eric White. One-year-old Ky'Air Lucus, also a passenger, was killed in the same crash. The Lake County Coroner's Office identified both victims following the crash.
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At approximately 11:30 a.m., Lake County sheriff's deputies attempted to stop the Audi after police said White was traveling at high speed and ran a red light near 25th Avenue and Broadway. White accelerated and continued south toward Broadway and Interstate 80/94.
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The Lake County Sheriff's Department said the Audi continued at high speed and deputies eventually lost sight of it. White subsequently entered Interstate 80/94 and was reported weaving through traffic. Near Colfax Street, the Audi struck the rear of a semi-trailer.
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The Indiana State Police reconstruction investigation described the collision sequence in greater detail. After rear-ending the semi-trailer in the right lane, the Audi spun across the interstate and struck the median wall. It then traveled back across the traffic lanes in front of the same semi and was struck on its passenger side by the front of the truck. The Audi came to rest wedged beneath the semi's front bumper.
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Griffin was ejected during the crash and suffered fatal injuries. Ky'Air, who was restrained in a child safety seat in the rear passenger area, also suffered fatal injuries. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
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White survived with head injuries and was transported to a hospital. Police said a handgun was found in connection with the incident and alleged that White possessed it illegally. After being released from the hospital, he was taken to the Lake County Jail while authorities considered charges arising from the pursuit and deaths.
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Police also disclosed that White had been arrested by Lake County officers following another vehicle pursuit in November 2021.
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At the request of Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr., the Indiana State Police Lowell Crash Reconstruction Unit investigated the fatal collision. Gary police, Gary firefighters, the Lake County Coroner's Office, INDOT and other agencies assisted at the scene.

https://abc7chicago.com/gary-crash-today-i-80-police-chase/11438441/
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/i-80-94-northwest-indiana-crash/
https://abc7chicago.com/gary-crash-i80-police-chase-britni-griffin/11442266/
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/infant-woman-killed-in-northwest-indiana-after-driver-fled-from-police-in-vehicle-and-crashed
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/woman-and-toddler-who-were-killed-in-crash-allegedly-caused-by-man-fleeing-police-are-identified
https://www.spotlightonlake.com/posts/indiana-state-police-investigating-fatal-crash-i-80
https://regionnewssource.org/women-infant-dead-after-police-chase-on-80-94/

.
REASON FOR CHASE: Passenger killed during pursuit initiated after Lake County sheriff's deputies attempted to stop the Audi in which he was riding for speeding and running a red light near 25th Avenue and Broadway in Gary.
.
NARRATIVE:
On 01/07/2022, one-year-old Ky'Air Lucus of Matteson, Illinois, was killed during a Lake County Sheriff's Department pursuit in Gary. Ky'Air was riding in a child safety seat in the rear passenger area of a black 2010 Audi A5. Twenty-year-old passenger Britney Griffin was also killed. The Lake County Coroner's Office subsequently identified both victims.
.
At approximately 11:30 a.m., Lake County sheriff's deputies attempted to stop the Audi after police said its driver, 21-year-old Eric White, was speeding and ran a red light near 25th Avenue and Broadway. White accelerated and traveled south toward Broadway and Interstate 80/94.
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Police said the Audi continued at high speed until deputies lost sight of it. The vehicle subsequently traveled onto Interstate 80/94, where White was reported weaving through traffic. Near Colfax Street, the Audi rear-ended a semi-trailer.
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According to the Indiana State Police crash reconstruction investigation, the impact sent the Audi spinning across the interstate into the median wall. The Audi then traveled back across the traffic lanes in front of the same semi and was struck on its passenger side. It came to rest wedged beneath the semi's front bumper.
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Ky'Air suffered fatal injuries while in his car seat. Griffin was ejected from the Audi and also suffered fatal injuries. Both were pronounced dead at the scene by the Lake County Coroner's Office.
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White survived with head injuries and was hospitalized. Police said a handgun was found and alleged that White possessed it illegally. After his release from the hospital, he was taken to the Lake County Jail. Authorities also disclosed that Lake County officers had arrested White following another vehicle pursuit in November 2021.
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The Indiana State Police Lowell Crash Reconstruction Unit investigated the collision at the request of Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. The Lake County Sheriff's Department handled the criminal investigation associated with the pursuit.

https://abc7chicago.com/gary-crash-today-i-80-police-chase/11438441/
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/i-80-94-northwest-indiana-crash/
https://abc7chicago.com/gary-crash-i80-police-chase-britni-griffin/11442266/
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/infant-woman-killed-in-northwest-indiana-after-driver-fled-from-police-in-vehicle-and-crashed
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/woman-and-toddler-who-were-killed-in-crash-allegedly-caused-by-man-fleeing-police-are-identified
https://www.spotlightonlake.com/posts/indiana-state-police-investigating-fatal-crash-i-80
https://regionnewssource.org/women-infant-dead-after-police-chase-on-80-94/

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REASON FOR CHASE: Bystander killed during pursuit of a driver Rochester police believed may have been involved in a shooting on Dewey Avenue.
.
NARRATIVE:
On 01/07/2022, an unidentified man was killed in Rochester when his vehicle was struck by another vehicle during a high-speed Rochester Police Department pursuit. Contemporary reporting confirms that the fatal collision occurred during the police chase and that the person killed was in the other vehicle rather than the vehicle police were pursuing.
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Police said the driver they were pursuing may have been involved in a shooting on Dewey Avenue. During the pursuit, that driver's vehicle collided with another car, killing the male occupant of the second vehicle.
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The pursued driver survived the collision and was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital with injuries described as not life-threatening.
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The fatality was significant enough that Rochester Mayor Malik Evans discussed it publicly that same afternoon while describing the violence and deaths that had occurred during his first week as mayor. WXXI's January 7 contemporary report explicitly described the death as occurring when the man's car was struck during a high-speed police chase.
.

https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2022/01/07/one-dead-another-injured-crash-st-paul-east-main-rochester-ny/9127926002/

https://13wham.com/news/local/parolee-indicted-for-manslaughter-following-rochester-chase-and-fatal-crash-in-january

https://www.rochesterfirst.com/crime/1-dead-1-seriously-injured-following-a-major-crash-on-e-main-st-in-rochester

David Downing was chased for a traffic violation near Ida Grove. He lost control near the Crawford Creek Recreation area and struck a tree, rolled his vehicle several times and he was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. It is unclear why he fled and why police chased him for such a lengthy dangerous stretch for an alleged traffic infraction

https://www.hopelawfirm.com/blog/2022/january/news-driver-killed-in-police-pursuit-crash-in-ba/

https://who13.com/news/man-killed-in-crash-after-pursuit-in-ida-county-iowa-state-patrol-says/

https://www.newsbreak.com/iowa-state/2476797952156-man-killed-in-crash-after-pursuit-in-ida-county-iowa-state-patrol-says

On 01/03/2022, Brittany Webb, 28, was driving a Honda Accord when she was struck head-on by a man chased by police from a traffic stop initiated by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers for a tinted license plate cover. The chase went the wrong way on Statesville Avenue, before colliding with Webb’s vehicle. Webb suffered critical injuries and died on 01/21/2022 after nearly three weeks on life support. A civil lawsuit filed by Webb’s family is ongoing.

• https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/crime/article308510320.html
• https://www.wbtv.com/2022/01/26/woman-seriously-injured-after-man-fleeing-police-crashes-into-her-charlotte/
• https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/cmpd-release-video-deadly-chase-crash/275-9cc085fd-4175-4147-8fcb-6ad0814d7c63

On Jan. 3, 2022 during rush-hour on Statesville Road, Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD undertook a risky chase of another driver who crashed into third party motorist Brittany Ciarra Webb, killing her. The fleeing driver was charged in her death while the role of police in escalating the chase was not scrutinized.

https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/investigations/police-pursuits-record-number-innocent-victims-killed/275-ec245680-4937-4346-aaba-008ed5f7fd77

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_c0lXVcfFU

Contemporary reporting states that Parham and another driver were street racing through Thomaston before Parham crashed. Police were able to stop the other driver after the crash.
NARRATIVE:
On 01/01/2022, 20-year-old Montavius Arontae Parham of Thomaston was killed after the Dodge Charger Hellcat he was driving left the roadway and crashed into a ditch in Upson County. Contemporary local reporting identified the incident as a street-racing crash involving Parham and another motorist traveling north through Thomaston on U.S. Highway 19 at speeds reported to exceed 80 mph.
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According to Thomaston Police Chief Mike Richardson, Parham and 32-year-old Cortez Puckett were racing northbound through town. Parham turned east from Highway 19 onto County Road and lost control shortly after passing Northside Baptist Church. His Charger left the roadway and entered a ditch.
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Parham was trapped inside the wrecked vehicle. First responders used hydraulic rescue equipment to free him, and he was transported to the emergency room, where he was pronounced dead.
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Police stopped Puckett near the Waffle House in the Northside area. Puckett was subsequently charged with street racing, reckless stunt driving, and driving too fast for conditions. The available reporting does not state that police were pursuing Parham before his crash, nor does it describe officers attempting a traffic stop of Parham or following his vehicle in a pursuit.
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Georgia State Patrol Post 26 investigated the fatal crash. Georgia Department of Public Safety records from the New Year's holiday period independently confirm that the Thomaston State Patrol post investigated a fatal crash during that period.
.

https://fun101fm.blogspot.com/2022/01/traffic-fatality-in-upson-involving.html
https://www.burdensfuneralhome.net/obituary/montavius-parham
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/montavius-parham-obituary?id=32208595
https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-crashes-kill-15-over-new-years-weekend/US7SQ767DFGMBEEUBOKCF6GDC4/

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REASON WHY PURSUIT WAS INITIATED:
Several observed moving violations.
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EVENT NARRATIVE:
On 12/27/2021, at approximately 10:30 p.m., Punxsutawney Borough Police Department officers attempted to stop a red 2011 Dodge Caliber driven by 53-year-old Robert Michael George for several observed moving violations. George continued driving away while police escalated a high-speed chase south on State Route 119 from Punxsutawney toward Big Run.
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At approximately 10:45 p.m., the chase reached Big Run. As George attempted a left turn onto Main Street, the Dodge failed to remain in its lane and crashed into the Best Kawasaki motorcycle dealership at 100 East Main Street. The impact caused extensive structural damage to the building. George was pronounced dead following the crash.
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George, a Big Run resident originally from Hamburg, New York, worked at Sensus Metering Systems in DuBois. He had previously worked as a nursing-home caregiver and in construction and remodeling.
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TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES:
1 Fatality, 0 reported injuries.
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DISPOSITION:
Pennsylvania State Police investigated the fatal crash. No subsequent criminal charge or disciplinary disposition against an involved officer was located.
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LITIGATION:
None found.

https://gantnews.com/2021/12/29/explorejefferson-big-run-man-dies-following-high-speed-police-chase-crashes-into-local-dealership/

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/punxsutawneyspirit/name/robert-george-obituary?id=32033633

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REASON WHY PURSUIT WAS INITIATED:
Officer Mark Sohn attempted to stop Davis for allegedly riding a dirt bike recklessly on public streets. Davis was not alleged to have committed a forcible felony, although Boynton Beach Police Department policy permitted vehicle pursuits only when police reasonably believed a person fleeing had committed a forcible felony.
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EVENT NARRATIVE:
On 12/26/2021, shortly before 1:00 p.m., 13-year-old Stanley “SJ” Davis III was riding a new Honda CRF450R-S dirt bike in Boynton Beach. Davis stopped at a Chevron station at 217 North Federal Highway, where surveillance video showed him fueling the motorcycle and paying for the gas. Officer Mark Sohn located Davis there and attempted to stop him after police alleged Davis had been riding recklessly on public streets. Davis drove away and Sohn escalated a high-speed chase north on Federal Highway.
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The subsequent Boynton Beach Police Department Internal Affairs investigation determined that Sohn accelerated to approximately 79–85 mph in a 35-mph zone while following Davis, who was traveling at approximately 85 mph. Investigators found that both Davis and Sohn traveled at times on the wrong side of the roadway and into oncoming traffic. Sohn later maintained that he was not conducting a pursuit and was merely monitoring Davis’s direction of travel, but Internal Affairs rejected that explanation as unsupported by the evidence and determined that Sohn had violated the department’s pursuit policy.
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Less than a mile from the gas station, near North Federal Highway and Northeast 8th Avenue, Davis lost control of the dirt bike, struck a median curb, was ejected and struck a sign in the median. He died at the scene. The Florida Highway Patrol concluded that there was no physical contact between Sohn’s police vehicle and Davis’s motorcycle.
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Davis was a seventh-grade student at Congress Middle School and the only son of Shannon Thompson and Stanley Davis Jr. His family said the dirt bike was a Christmas present and that he had gone out to get gas when the encounter with Sohn occurred.
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TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES:
1 Fatality, 0 reported injuries.
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EYEWITNESS OR FAMILY STATEMENTS:
Davis’s mother, Shannon Thompson, disputed the characterization of the encounter as an ordinary attempted traffic stop and said her son had gone out only to get gas and was afraid of Sohn. Davis’s parents maintained that Sohn’s pursuit caused their son’s death and argued that Sohn should already have been removed from policing because of his history of improper pursuits. Civil-rights attorneys Benjamin Crump, Jasmine Rand and Sue-Ann Robinson argued that pursuing a 13-year-old for riding a dirt bike fell outside the department’s forcible-felony pursuit policy and asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the department.
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DISPOSITION:
The Florida Highway Patrol completed its traffic-homicide investigation in March 2022 and concluded that Davis was traveling approximately 85 mph, that Sohn’s vehicle did not physically contact the motorcycle, and that no criminal charges would be filed. A separate Boynton Beach Police Department Internal Affairs investigation reached a materially different conclusion regarding Sohn’s conduct: investigators found that Sohn violated the department’s vehicle-pursuit policy and other departmental rules, demonstrated poor judgment, and attempted to conceal the existence of the pursuit. The city fired Sohn in August 2022.
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In May 2024, an arbitrator agreed that the city had established that Sohn violated the pursuit policy but ruled that termination was too severe and ordered him reinstated without back pay, benefits or seniority for the period he was terminated. The city subsequently challenged the reinstatement.
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LITIGATION:
On 11/15/2022, Stanley Davis Jr., Shannon Thompson and the Estate of Stanley Davis III filed a federal civil-rights and wrongful-death lawsuit against Mark Sohn and the City of Boynton Beach in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Case No. 9:22-cv-81773. The lawsuit alleged that Sohn’s reckless and unlawful pursuit caused Davis’s death and that the city knew of Sohn’s history of improper pursuits and failed to prevent further harm.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Mark Sohn had an extensive documented disciplinary history involving vehicle pursuits before Davis’s death. Boynton Beach Internal Affairs reported that he had previously been disciplined three times for violating pursuit policy, including suspensions. The investigation into Davis’s death concluded that Sohn again violated pursuit policy and stated that his repeated violations unnecessarily endangered the public and other officers.
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Sohn had also been involved in at least two earlier fatal pursuits. In 2012, Sohn pursued Cyrus Deal at speeds exceeding 100 mph before Deal crashed and died; the pursuit was found to violate department policy and Sohn received a one-day unpaid suspension. In 2016, Sohn pursued a vehicle over an expired license plate; the driver crashed and killed 5-year-old pedestrian Jayden Readon. The city later agreed to pay Readon’s family $300,000 to settle litigation arising from that unauthorized pursuit.

https://www.local10.com/news/local/2022/04/01/fhp-officer-wont-be-charged-after-13-year-old-boy-died-during-chase/
https://www.wptv.com/news/region-s-palm-beach-county/boynton-beach/13-year-old-boynton-beach-dirt-bike-rider-was-driving-recklessly-at-85-mph-fhp-report-concludes
https://www.wflx.com/2022/08/25/internal-affairs-report-shows-why-boynton-beach-police-officer-was-terminated/
https://www.wpbf.com/article/mark-sohn-internal-affairs-report-stanley-davis-boynton-beach-police/40984507
https://www.wptv.com/news/region-s-palm-beach-county/boynton-beach/officer-mark-sohn-fired
https://www.wptv.com/news/region-s-palm-beach-county/boynton-beach/attorney-benjamin-crump-files-complaint-with-department-of-justice-concerning-death-of-boynton-beach-teen
https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/boynton-beach-family-officer-termination-police-chase/
https://wsvn.com/news/local/florida/family-calls-for-boynton-beach-officer-with-alleged-list-of-prior-bad-behavior-to-be-fired/
https://www.wpbf.com/article/florida-boynton-beach-dirt-bike-crash-stanley-davis-family-lawsuit/42026878
https://www.wptv.com/news/region-s-palm-beach-county/boynton-beach/mark-sohn-wrongful-death-lawsuit
https://dockets.justia.com/docket/florida/flsdce/9%3A2022cv81773/623672
https://www.wflx.com/2024/05/29/fired-boynton-beach-police-officer-should-get-job-back-arbitrator-rules/
https://www.wpbf.com/article/florida-boynton-beach-police-settlement-mark-sohn-reinstatement-appeal/65194946

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REASON WHY POLICE VEHICLE WAS SPEEDING:
Officer Christopher Cabrera was returning to his station after booking a DWI arrestee and was hurrying to complete paperwork and file charges. He was not responding to an emergency and did not have his emergency lights or siren activated.
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EVENT NARRATIVE:
On 12/26/2021, at approximately 12:00 p.m., 75-year-old Charles Payne Sr. was driving south on North Shepherd Drive after leaving a Sunday church service. Payne approached Thornton Road in his Cadillac CTS, signaled and began making a left turn across the northbound lanes. Houston Police Department Officer Christopher Cabrera was driving a marked police SUV north on North Shepherd Drive.
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Cabrera was not responding to an emergency and was driving without emergency lights or siren. Vehicle data and subsequent court proceedings established that Cabrera reached approximately 70 mph on the 35-mph roadway. Immediately before the collision, Cabrera was traveling approximately twice the speed limit and had looked down at his police laptop. The Fifth Circuit later stated that if Cabrera had been traveling at the speed limit, the collision would not have occurred.
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Cabrera's police SUV struck Payne's Cadillac as Payne turned across the northbound lanes. Surveillance footage showed the violent impact sending Payne's Cadillac onto the sidewalk and approximately a block down the roadway, while Cabrera's police SUV struck a concrete pole. Payne suffered severe injuries and was transported to Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, where he died. Cabrera sustained minor injuries.
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Payne was a father of seven and grandfather who had just left The Community of Faith Church before the crash. His family said he regularly attended Sunday services there and was driving home when Cabrera struck him.
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TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES:
1 Fatality, 1 Injury.
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EYEWITNESS OR FAMILY STATEMENTS:
Payne's family maintained from the beginning that Cabrera's excessive speed caused the crash and demanded accountability from HPD. The family later alleged in federal court that Payne's death reflected a broader departmental practice that permitted officers to speed without emergency lights or sirens and without adequate consequences. A federal jury ultimately agreed that the City of Houston's policies demonstrated deliberate indifference to public safety.
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DISPOSITION:
HPD relieved Cabrera of duty while the crash was investigated. A Harris County grand jury subsequently considered a potential criminally negligent homicide charge and returned a no bill, declining to indict him. HPD suspended Cabrera for 45 days without pay and required two days of remedial traffic-safety training. He was not criminally charged.
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LITIGATION:
Payne's widow Harriet Payne and seven children pursued litigation against Cabrera and the City of Houston. The federal action, Payne et al. v. City of Houston, Texas et al., Case No. 4:23-cv-04686, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas on 12/15/2023. In March 2024, the court dismissed the federal civil-rights claim against Cabrera but allowed claims against the City to continue.
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The City attempted to obtain dismissal based on governmental immunity, but on 04/03/2025 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit rejected that argument, concluding that Cabrera was not reacting to an emergency and that the allegations supported a finding of reckless conduct.
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In November 2025, following an eight-day federal trial, a jury found the City of Houston liable and awarded Payne's family $13 million. Evidence presented at trial included patrol-vehicle data indicating that Cabrera frequently drove substantially above posted speed limits on surface streets even when he was not responding to emergencies. Civil-rights attorney Ben Crump was among the attorneys representing Payne's family. The City subsequently challenged and appealed the verdict; that challenge remained ongoing in 2026.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Christopher Cabrera was 28 years old at the time of the crash. Evidence presented during the family's civil case included patrol-vehicle data indicating that Cabrera had repeatedly driven 20 to 30 mph above posted speed limits on surface streets when he was not responding to emergency calls. Cabrera testified that whether he regularly drove that far above the speed limit depended on the circumstances, stating, "We are in a city."

https://www.houstontx.gov/police/nr/2021/dec/nr211228-02.htm
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2021/12/27/77-year-old-victim-killed-in-crash-involving-hpd-patrol-unit-identified-by-family/
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2021/12/28/officer-relieved-of-duty-following-crash-that-killed-77-year-old-man-hpd-says/
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2022/01/26/hpd-releases-body-camera-video-in-officer-involved-crash-that-killed-75-year-old-man/
https://abc13.com/post/hpd-officer-was-speeding-before-deadly-crash-2021-takes-stand-civil-trial/18152871/
https://abc13.com/18170282/
https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca5/24-20150/24-20150-2025-04-03.html
https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/texas/txsdce/4%3A2023cv04686/1944948/20
https://dockets.justia.com/docket/texas/txsdce/4%3A2023cv04686/1944948
https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/unpub/24/24-20150.0.pdf
https://abc13.com/post/houston-leaders-review-hpd-hfd-crash-response-following-charles-payne-lawsuit/18581655/

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REASON WHY PURSUIT WAS INITIATED:
U.S. Border Patrol agents attempted to stop the vehicle after identifying it as part of a suspected migrant-smuggling operation near the Otay Mountain Wilderness.
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EVENT NARRATIVE:
On 12/25/2021, shortly before 6:00 p.m., Kevin Antonio Quevedo-Moncada picked up three migrants, including 52-year-old Gaudencio Gerardo Luna-Vasquez, who had crossed the U.S.-Mexico border and were hiding in the Otay Mountain Wilderness in eastern San Diego County. Federal prosecutors later established that Quevedo-Moncada was participating in a migrant-smuggling operation and expected to be paid $2,000 to transport the passengers to Anaheim.
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At approximately 6:02 p.m., a U.S. Border Patrol agent in a marked vehicle encountered the car near the Pio Pico RV Resort and Thousand Trails Campground and activated the patrol vehicle's emergency lights. Quevedo-Moncada initially appeared to slow before accelerating into the campground. A second Border Patrol agent positioned a marked patrol vehicle at the campground exit. At approximately 6:03 p.m., Quevedo-Moncada struck that Border Patrol vehicle and drove east onto Otay Lakes Road while agents pursued.
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Quevedo-Moncada continued driving at high speed along the dark, winding rural roadway in rainy and wet conditions. The pursuing Border Patrol agents lost sight of the vehicle. A subsequent California Highway Patrol crash reconstruction determined that Quevedo-Moncada reached approximately 93 mph while negotiating a curve with a posted speed limit of 35 mph. He lost control, drove off the roadway and down an embankment, and crashed into a tree.
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Luna-Vasquez and the two other passengers were ejected from the vehicle. Luna-Vasquez died at the scene. The other passengers, ages 19 and 29, were hospitalized in critical condition. One suffered a broken jaw, collapsed lung, eight fractured ribs, spleen and kidney injuries and required a medically induced coma before being stabilized. Quevedo-Moncada, who was not seriously injured, climbed through the windshield and ran from the crash scene before Border Patrol agents apprehended him.
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Federal prosecutors later determined that the fatal trip was connected to a larger migrant-smuggling organization headed by Felipe de Jesus Rosales-Herrera. Prosecutors said drivers working for the organization were instructed to flee if Border Patrol attempted to stop them, including by engaging in high-speed chases. The organization continued smuggling migrants after its members learned that Luna-Vasquez had been killed in this crash.
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TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES:
1 Fatality, 2 Critical Injuries.
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DISPOSITION:
Quevedo-Moncada pleaded guilty in October 2022 to federal charges arising from the crash, including transportation of unauthorized migrants resulting in death and transportation resulting in serious bodily injury. On 02/03/2023, U.S. District Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo sentenced him to 51 months in federal prison.
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The broader federal investigation subsequently resulted in prosecution of members of the smuggling organization connected to the trip. Rosales-Herrera pleaded guilty in 2024 to conspiracy charges involving an organization that prosecutors said smuggled more than 100 migrants and instructed drivers to flee from law enforcement.
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LITIGATION:
None found.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/human-smuggler-sentenced-51-months-fatal-christmas-day-crash
https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/san-diego-news/man-pleads-guilty-to-fatal-crash-during-police-chase-that-killed-migrant
https://timesofsandiego.com/crime/2022/10/03/smuggler-pleads-guilty-to-fatal-christmas-day-crash-that-killed-migrant/
https://apnews.com/article/55506a8b67f8a2aa26f1c294223b0e5d
https://timesofsandiego.com/crime/2024/07/11/ringleader-of-migrant-smuggling-operation-linked-to-2021-fatal-crash-pleads-guilty/
https://timesofsandiego.com/crime/2024/10/11/migrant-smuggling-ring-leader-sentenced-to-10-years-in-prison/