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Teenager involved in chase is critical |
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Tuesday, 01 July 2008 |
Fled from police; inquiry continues
A 16-year-old Alexander girl remains in critical condition at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock following a police chase last week that ended with a wreck on Military Road in Benton.
Benton police are refusing to release the name of the teenage driver because they are investigating the incident for possible criminal behavior, including driving under the influence, Sgt. Kevin Russell said.
The driver and two occupants of the pickup were hospitalized after the truck wrecked shortly before midnight last Thursday.
Police said a warrant is not being issued now for the driver because of the extent of the injuries, but possible charges will include felony fleeing, careless and prohibited driving, speeding, reckless driving, running a red light, driving left of center, driving under the influence and improper passing.
Sgt. Lisa Wylie said she approached the traffic light at the entrance to the post office on Military Road just after 11:30 p.m. Thursday when a truck pulled out of the parking lot and turned right onto Military. Wylie said the driver was squealing tires and fishtailing into traffic. When she approached the vehicle, Wylie said, the driver “punched it and began to pull away”.
Wylie gave chase and said the pickup crossed the center lane and drove in the turn lane to pass a vehicle.
As the truck passed Lincoln Road, Wylie said, it went off the right side of the road. She said the driver tried to get the pickup back on the road when the truck ran off the left side of the road and crashed through a brick fence and flipped at Benton Residential Care at 2408 Military Road.
Wylie said she found Deanna Garten, 22, of Zebulon, N.C., crawling out of the passenger side window and tugging on Kandace Gillard, 23, of Raleigh, N.C., who was sitting closest to the passenger side door. The driver was found partially underneath the steering wheel and floorboard, Wylie said, noting that Gillard and the driver were unconscious.
Garten reportedly told Wylie that they ran from police because they were drinking. Wylie said she smelled a strong odor of intoxicants and that several beer cans were found around the truck and on the ground.
Garten and the driver were transported to Saline Memorial Hospital in Benton and Gillard was taken by Med-Flight to Baptist Medical Health Center Hospital in Little Rock.
Garten reportedly told Wylie at the hospital that she told the driver to stop during the chase but that she refused.
The drivers was later transferred to Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Garten was reportedly treated and released from Saline Memorial. Baptist Health officials have not provided a condition report on Gillard.
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