UPDATE: Seven Teenagers Killed in NC car wreck fleeing from police. (1 suspected of home invasion)

The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte.com) ^ | 30 DEC 03 | ERICA BESHEARS, ROBERT MOORE & KATHRYN WELLIN

[Ichneumon]

The headline in the Greensboro News and Record held a statement, "No drugs and (sic) alcohol) found."

Not found *in the car*. It remains to be seen how much was in the felons' bloodstreams.

[petercooper]

yes it's Dodge's fault for making the car

[Paradox]

This story is TRAGIC, and all the humour and smirking here aside, I do believe that these KIDS are VICTIMS. No, not of the Police, not of "the man", although "the liberal-man" should get part of the blame. What kind of culture gives rise to attitudes and morals that would get these KIDS to go out and do something like this? Its the urban/thug culture that is destroying urban (it goes beyond race now)America, faster than institutionalized racism ever did.

When will enough somebodies get up and yell STOP! There have been some voices, and the chorus, although fairly quiet, is growing. Leaders in this community are starting to speak out, but I am afraid its too late. The "critical mass" has been reached, and this cultural virus will now play out its course.

[banjo joe]

I'm sure they returned the cars with no damage and a full tank of gas as well.

This was great sport among the 14-15 y/o's in a neighborhood I lived in during the early '90s. The kids would steal cars, take them to an isolated area and play bumper cars.

Sheesh.

[samanella]

Betcha Je$$e Jackass shows up to form a protest that the cops were violating the chillruns civil rights by chasing them, and it's this type of action that allows his demands of the city of Statesville and County of Iredell and State of North Carolina to pay for this!!!! Pay right into the coffers of the Rainbow Coalition, as that's probably what the parents would want.........

[smith288]

"Can you wake him up? Please wake my son up. He was only 13."

Sadly, his death is a wake up call to you ma'am. All of these deaths were avoidable. I never had to get into high speed chases when I was 13-18 because my parents taught me:

A: Respect authority
B: Care about my parents enough to try to please them
C: I should obey general laws of society.

These kids lacked pretty much all of A B and C

[ken5050]

Agree...I wasted talking about this incident, per se, rather the general comments about the merits of high speed chases in general...many police officers, and civilian bystanders, are injured/killed during them...thats's the many reason many object to them...not becuase of what it might do to the criminals, who, as you say, brought it on themselves.....but a general policy against most pursuits would lead to more people fleeing at high speeds..

[JustPlainJoe]

Yes, it IS! We just don't CARE enough....
(open wallet, please.)

[Gritty]

It sounds like the cop did everything right.

The lawsuits will start immediately after the funerals.

[John D]

What happened to TheCrusader? He was so ANTIPOLICE, and so PRO CAR THIEF yesterday. Maybe he just did not know all the facts. He must not have. No one knowing the facts would have made the rediculous statements he made.

[moehoward]

I knew many would change their tune when more facts came to light.

[DCBryan1]

Yeah, but TheCrusader went out of his/her way to coddle the criminals and bash the cops.

Facts/truth be damned, TheCrusader had an agenda, and got his/her butt smoked the whole thread with assinine, arrogant, and ignorant statements..

[oyez]

Probably by gang affiliation

Communities must get preemptive about gangs instead of going to denial over the subject. Kids should be told as early as third grade that if they engage in gang related criminal activity they will be dealt with as terrorists.

[The PeteMan]

Darwin Award..

"Borrowing" (SEE STEALING) a car that has a donut tire on it. What gets me is how this is supposedly the police man's fault???

Go figure.

[The PeteMan]

<> The video technique works until you have someone in a stolen car,,,like here. The Mexican guy they stole it from would be charged with a felony and also not have his car.

[DCBryan1]

Darwin Award.

Definately, it deserves a VERY HONORABLE mention.

[xp38]

I think the owner of the vehicle is a prime target. The owner didn't replace the donut tire quick enough to prevent this incident. No warning of the donut tire being used was placed in or on vehicle for would be borrowers. Then on to the town and the police. Who else? Maybe the owner of the land where the car ended up.

[xp38]

Hold on...we need to ascertain whether any gene passing has occured already. Not a certainty one way or the other.

[tefis]

Too bad that The Crusader missed this info in an updated article:

"Also Monday, authorities said they were investigating Reed’s possible role in a home-invasion robbery in Mooresville Sunday night.

Six Mooresville residents reported that two men, armed with a gun, forced their way into a home and took more than $200 and a cell phone.

On Monday, four of the six robbery victims identified Reed as one of the assailants, Police Chief John Crone said. The other robbery suspect has not been identified, he said."

FYI...Reed is the 18 year old who was in the car and the lil' darling had committed an armed home invasion..."borrowing" $200.00 and a cell phone a few hours prior to the "joyride". SO not only were these kids driving erratically, in a stolen car...they were armed. Armed, dangerous and dead.

[river rat]

It appears the gene pool has been flushed, and the crime rate will diminish....

What's the problem?

The parents of those killed, are wailing and moaning - now, when they should have done a better job of parenting BEFORE the kids went nuts and killed themselves...

Society should not have to suffer the consequences of these morons who can't raise law abiding children....

Semper Fi