Police chase in Calif. ends with 7 dead

[tj2001]

http://www.fresnobee.com/406/story/1586552.html

A police pursuit in Dinuba turned tragic Saturday when the driver of a Dodge Neon ran a stop sign and crashed into a pickup, killing seven people — four children in the pickup and all three occupants of the smaller car, authorities said.

California Highway Patrol officers said the incident began about 2 p.m. when Dinuba police attempted to stop the car for a traffic infraction.

Instead, the driver sped away with police in pursuit. The driver went through a stop sign at Road 120 and Avenue 424 and collided with a GMC Sierra pickup, with both coming to rest near an orchard, CHP Sgt. Jon Baker said.

Four of the five children in the pickup were ejected and died at the scene. The fifth child and an adult were airlifted to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno with moderate to major injuries. The other adult was taken by ambulance to the same hospital with moderate injuries.

[Uzybone]

1. thats horrible

[NYC_SKP]

2. Five children in the pick-up, overloaded and apparently unrestrained.

"Four of the five children in the pickup were ejected and died at the scene."

Five kids, plus at least one adult, the driver???

:cry:

[sharesunited]

3. Hot pursuit is mainly police ego at work and rarely worth the risk of engaging in it.

[FourScore]

4. Yep. It should be outlawed. Innocent people are put at enormous risk

in these pursuits. Very sad.

[backwoodsbob]

6. there is a simple solution

ALL cars from today forward get a disable switch with a gps system built in...if you try to run they shut your car down

[FourScore]

19. Wow. That sounds great.

Brings up a twinge of "1984", police-state feelings, but for situations like this...perfect!

[TorchTheWitch]

8. ego? WTF???

They're doing their JOB! They're required to pursue lawbreakers. You can argue that chasing these people is too dangerous, but claiming the reason for it is the cop's ego is absurd. They HAVE to pursue them.

[sharesunited]

9. I say it is discretionary, and that it is a sport to them. Patience is a virtue, pride a vice.

[teranchala]

15. They only HAVE to if it is mandated by department policy. Not usual nowadays.

Most intelligent cop shops have determined that chasing misdemeanor suspects or even for minor felonies (like car theft) is not worth the risk. I tell you this as a former policeman and lost my best friend who, as a rookie got into a chase after a punk in a stolen car and killed himself and 3 other innocent motorists. That was many years ago and unfortunately the same kind of crap continues to this day. The other poster was exactly right, it is usually part of an ego trip.

[csziggy]

21. "Dinuba police attempted to stop the car for a traffic infraction"

So in an effort to give someone a ticket, the police participated in a high speed chase?

Maybe they need better traffic cameras to get the license number and track down the car and driver later, rather than escalate a situation to the point innocent people get killed.

[dgibby]

16. Pursuit is NOT mandatory.

My dad was Chief of Police, had a "No Pursuit" policy, exept with permission, based on circumstances. When one of his officers totaled the police cruiser while chasing a local teenager,my dad fired him on the spot.

[Raineyb]

24. A high speed chase for a traffic infraction is not a necessary component of their jobs

It's ego inflating bullshit that endangers the rest of the public.

[asdjrocky]

14. You are correct, but expect to get tazed for your comment, or at least pepper sprayed.

[MineralMan]

5. I can see no possible justification for a high-speed chase

over a traffic violation. I suspect that such chases are against the regulations of that police department, and that a lawsuit will drain Dinuba of whatever funds it might have. It is not a large place.

Also knowing Dinuba, it's altogether possible that the four children were riding in the bed of the truck.

[ccharles000]

7. so sad

[DrDan]

10. "ejected" - doesn't that usually mean no seatbelts?

[GETPLANING]

12. Sounds like the kids were riding in the bed

of the pickup, which itself is a violation in most states.
As to the high speed chase, the cops should copy the tag number, issue a warrant for evading arrest and pick the suspect up later.
Tragic.

[krispos42]

13. And how will they pick up the suspect later?

Pull him over?

[Crabby Appleton]

17. A lot of the time they flee because they're in a stolen car.

[Garbo 2004]

20. Apparently, according to another report, that was the case here. nt

[Kadie]

11. sad...

:cry:

[Heidi]

18. Nothn' like death or a very near miss to kill a real or figurative speed woody:

And I don' say this in a sexist context. My mother-in-law is one of the worst offenders. I love her to death but I would not want her to have both a powerful car and a badge. She scares the shit outta me as it is with a Volvo station wagon and a sesnse of immortality honed on "black" ski runs.

[tekisui]

22. High speed chases are stupid and dealy. Cops should end it.

[wuushew]

23. kick

:kick: