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Britni Griffin

Age : 20

Gender : Female

Race : Black

Date : 01/07/2022

Location : Interstate 80/94 westbound near mile marker 5.7 / Colfax Street

City : Gary

County : Lake

State : Indiana

Agency : Lake County Sheriff's Office

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Passenger killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

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.

SOURCE LINKS :

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/