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Police chase, crash claim life of child
Dec 16, 2012 | 17236 views | 11 11 comments | 9 9 recommendations | email to a friend | print

A 9-year-old was killed and a 15-year-old injured during a police chase that began shortly before midnight on Saturday.

The chase began when Mount Airy Senior Police Officer Ryan Bennett observed a vehicle speeding on U.S. 52 south at 11:55 p.m, according to a statement released by the police department. Bennett turned around and tried to stop the vehicle at the U.S. 601 exit, but the driver kept going and “a brief pursuit ensued,” according to police.

Police said the chase continued from U.S. 601 onto Edgewood Drive, then onto Carter Street. As the vehicle proceeded on Carter Street the driver lost control, ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree before coming to a stop partially submerged in the Ararat River.

The 9-year-old, a passenger in the car, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle, a 15-year-old, was treated and released from Northern Hospital of Surry County.

Police will not release the names of the two juveniles, nor the speed of the vehicle during the chase or at the time of the crash. A spokesperson at the police station indicated there was no one available today to answer additional questions regarding the wreck.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing. Members of the Surry County Emergency Services, The Mount Airy Fire Department, The Mount Airy Rescue Squad, The Surry County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Carolina Highway Patrol assisted with the incident.



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Comments
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discopete
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December 18, 2012
Yeah, it's the officer's fault a 15 year old didn't respect their sibling's life or drive safely. That makes perfect sense. Maybe it's the car's fault for going too fast, too?
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not.good.at.choosing.usernames
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December 17, 2012
In case no one else noticed, even the title of the article insinuates that the police chase was partially to blame for the death. I'm not saying that I agree by any means, but maybe it's an inadvertent suggestion that's influencing these "commenters" opinion that it was.
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ktvalent
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December 17, 2012
First of all this is a nightmare of an event for all parties involved. Don't bash the cop, he did his job the best be could. Don't bash the child, she made a bad decision. Kids do that. Don't bash the parents. Noone knows what they teach or don't teach their kids. Instead of pointing fingers. Why don't you the people of the community band together to educate the young drivers about how to handle seeing blue lights behind them. As a 35 year old man with kids of my own, I can vouch that is a little unnerving to see those blue lights. Imagine a 15 year old knowing they are doing wrong and the fear of telling your mom or dad you stole the car. Worse yet, the cop tells your parents. Let's stop pointing fingers, placing blame,.and bashing the victims of this event. Community, pull together to prevent another event like this. As for the 9 year old. The only thing anyone can do now is pray for the families involved. We need GOD back in our schools!
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NotNeg
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December 16, 2012
If this speeding juvenile had hit a car with a mother and baby in it and killed the baby we would want to know why didn't the police stop her. Somewhere along the line this kid made some decisions...to drive, to have the baby brother along, to speed, to flee. All decisions have consequences be it good or bad. The officer made the decision to perform his job. The consequence was bad but that doesn't make him bad. I am not police happy but I just feel in my heart that this officer didn't set out to chase some kids and find one of them fatally injured. I just don't believe our officers are that sick. Some poor mother is devasted today. Her baby is dead. Her other baby is damaged for life. I bet she brought her up right. I bet she tried to tell her right from wrong. I bet her kids are just like our kids. They make bad decisions. They think they are grown when they aren't. Today we still have our kids. Let's talk to them about consequences.
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jennm26
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December 16, 2012
You need to back off of your stupid comments about this officer! I know him personally and he does not get a kick out of chasing people who are breaking the law. Are officers supposed to not chase after anyone who refuses to stop for blue lights? If that was the case, no one would ever stop for blue lights.
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fireman_1341
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December 16, 2012
I am with you Jenn.. I know him and his family. this guy is straight up. Some of these people need to go out and watch thier kids run up and down the road with the vehicles thier parents are paying for. I am not against teens cruising and hanging out but they need to be more responsible and courteous drivers Besides arent teens with a license SUPPOSE to not be driving after a certain hour. Did she have a license at all? Don't blame the officer.
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Matthew24
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December 19, 2012
Congratulations, You know the officer. A 9 year old boy is DEAD. But thats ok, the officer is a good guy. Maybe someone should question the judgment of these officers when they begin these type chases. Who was he really protecting? Since when should you DIE for speeding. Their are other means, a little less aggresive than creating a chase. What if that were your child. I think you would feel different. But don't forget you know him he is a good guy. God Bless the family of that child.
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Quintonsuncle
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December 16, 2012
Did y'all even read the story. Are y'all familiar with us 52 at 11:55 at night (pm). The next time your driving down 52 at night look across four lanes of traffic at oncoming vehicles going the speed limit and see if you can see the driver much less any passengers. Now add in that the vehicle is speeding and has tinted windows. Would you be able to see who was driving or who was a passenger. When my child sits in the front seat her head doesn't come over the head rest so is it possible the officer didn't even know there was more than one person in the vehicle. As someone who knows I'm sure the officer was chasing this vehicle in hopes of stopping it from hitting another vehicle, maybe yours or your family's.
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mrsjames336
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December 16, 2012
Why didn,t the cop just back off? I mean could he not see the driver or what.
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skbyerly
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December 16, 2012
Cops get a kick out of people running from them. Every time a cop gets on the job they want someone to make their job more exciting. So when this little girl and boy ran he took it as a challenge not thinking of the consequences. Yes the girl was wrong but she is young and dumb the officer must have seen the girl was under age and the little boy in the car. The response he should have had was to get the license plate number after they didn't stop in the first place. This is a sad tragedy that most likely could have been prevented if the officer would have been thinking about more than a thrill.
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Hokienurse
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December 18, 2012
I know the police officer personally...I know he doesn't het a kick out of chasing people(skbyerly), but he does do his job...if someone is disobeying the law, he had to persue them...and when the driver doesn't pull over he had to chase them...I know when i drive at night i can't see what kind of car i pass much less see who the driver is... and the cop didnt back off because it's his job to chase someone if they dont pull over...
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