|
Teen driver in car chase dies |
|
|
Thursday, 10 July 2008 |
16-year-old girl had led police in pursuit, leading to accident
Kelly Jackson, the 16-year-old Alexander girl who led Benton police on a high-speed chase June 26, died Tuesday morning at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock.
Her body was sent to the state Crime Laboratory for autopsy, Benton police Sgt. Kevin Russell said.
Jackson was a student at Bryant High School. A memorial service was held Wednesday at the family life center at Holland Chapel Baptist Church in Benton.
The chase, which authorities said reached speeds in excess of 90 mph, ended with a wreck on Military Road in Benton.
Jackson and two passengers in the pickup — Deanna Garten, 22, of Zebulon, N.C., and Kandace Gillard, 23, of Raleigh, N.C. — were hospitalized after the truck wrecked.
Gillard was transported to Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock. Garten was treated and released from Saline Memorial Hospital in Benton.
Benton police Sgt. Lisa Wylie said she approached the traffic signal at the entrance to the post office on Military Road just after 11:30 p.m. June 26 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 pursued 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 onto the road when the truck veered off the left side of the road and crashed through a brick fence and flipped at Benton Residential Care at 2408 Military Road.
Russell said a review of the accident was conducted and it has been determined that Wylie “conformed to all Benton police and procedures regarding such matters.” She acted within proper guidelines, he said.
Wylie said she found Garten crawling out of the passenger side window and tugging on Gillard, who was sitting closest to the passenger side door. Jackson 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 reportedly told Wylie at the hospital that she told the driver to stop during the chase, but Jackson refused.
Police have not been pursuing charges against Jackson because of the extent of her injuries.
|
Razorbacks
