SEVEN TEENAGERS KILLED IN N. C.

[boothead]

Seven teenagers ranging from 13 to 18 were killed this A.M. about 12:30 after being chased by the Troutman Police. The driver was seen driving in an erratic way and a chase was started. The car ran off the roadway to the left and went into a slid ending up in a small stream-bed on it's top. All seven, 5 boys and 2 girls were killed instantly. The auto was stolen earlier in the night. Some of the victims have not been identified. The teenagers were all from the Statesville, N. C. area. Sorry but this is all I have.

[Natural Law]

The car was stolen and being driven erraticly. I suppose if the car had caused an accident you would blame the cops too.

[DefCon]

The North Carolina Highway Patrol has identified the seven teenagers killed when their car ran off an Iredell County road and down an embankment in Troutman early Monday.

Authorities say they believe John Lindsey Myers, 15, was the driver at the time of the collision.
David Wayne Summers, 14,
Quentin Maurice Reed, 18,
Antonio Miller, 13,
Erica Stevenson, 15,
Antoinette Griffin, 13, and
Domnick Hurtt, 17, also died in the accident.
All of the victims were from Statesville.

[MediaMole]

This case reminds me of one locally where two 15-yr-old girls stole a car after walking away from a residential treatment center. When the cops found them, they ran. The chase lasted 8 blocks. It was over in less than 45 seconds.

The two girls ran a stop sign and crashed into a car carrying three elderly women on their way home from bingo. They killed one of the women and severely injured the others.

There was nothing the police could have done, they ran as soon as the officer put on his lights to stop them.

[TheCrusader]

"What part of the words "stolen" and "high pursuit" don't you understand?"

What part of the words "needless, dangerous high speed chase" don't you understand? Not long ago these chases were not allowed by police forces for petty crimes like car theft that involved youngsters. There was a damn good reason for it too.... the high speed chases frequently ended up with dead or injured innocent bystanders, or the deaths of a whole carload of kids. If you think this car chase was worth it, then you go take a flying #$%&^% for yourself.

[mystery-ak]

My oh My....every parents worse nightmare....this is the first I heard the car was stolen...

[boothead]

Dyrita Ellis, 31, who came to the scene with her teenage daughter and a cousin, said the five boys who died were a tight-knit group.

"We just saw them yesterday," she said. "They were happy and laughing. ... It looks like they were out having fun last night, just doing their Christmas holiday break."

[FITZ]

carload of dangerous criminals

Car thieves usually are dangerous criminals. It sounds like they had very little regard for anyone's life.

[iopscusa]

Certainly a sad situation, dead teenagers who made their own choices...could have been worst, they could have been responsible for the murder of other innocents!

[Mark was here]

I hope the police are happy they gave a high speed pursuit of this carload of dangerous criminals.

Naw, they have a hard time collecting traffic fines from corpses.

Any way seems to me you were right in a sense, they were dangerous criminals, car theft is a crime, and they were certainly a danger to themselves.

[Not A Snowbird]

The police could not have known who was in the car or why they ran. Are they supposed to just shrug their shoulders, say "oh well", and let all perps that run for it go? Is that what you're suggesting?

[CyberCowboy777]

Have you ever been hit by a carload of teenagers driving recklessly?

Pursue and arrest them every time. It is better their stupid behavior cost them than me or that little girl walking down the sidewalk with her mom.

Too many die because of teens behind the wheel.

[TheGunny]

IYAOYAS!!!!!!!

[TheCrusader]

"WHERE WERE THE PARENTS?????"

Maybe they were home worrying and making phone calls trying to find her. What's this go to do with a stupid, needless high speed car chase that would have at best apprehended a teenager who stole a car, and at worst caused the deaths of seven youngsters? The benefits of such a chase just do not balance out the risks. Returning the car and making an arrest for theft of a material piece of tin is more important than the lives of seven kids? I swear that people's brains and priorities in this country are up their #$@+*& these days.

[Not A Snowbird]

I have a 14-year-old. We use situations like this as an opportunity to teach her what the kids should have done and what happened when they made the wrong choice. Unfortunately we get the eye roll and stony expression from her when we try... I hope it's getting through, but it's hard to tell.

[Walkin Man]

How are the police supposed to know the difference between, say, a car full of stupid kids out for a joyride and say, a possible armed felon that just robbed a store and murdered someone?

What if the stolen car is doing 100 miles an hour and weaving all over the road? Just let them continue on their merry way??

The cops were doing their jobs and the kids were in the wrong and unfortunately they paid for their mistake with their lives.

Things like this can happen when you commit crimes.

[Not A Snowbird]

Maybe they were home worrying and making phone calls trying to find her.

Okay, maybe the 13-y/o's weren't where they told their parents they were going to be... or maybe the parents are the permissive type who let their barely teenage children run the streets with older, driving-age kids at all hours of the night. I'd love to know.

[aomagrat]

Roger that!

[hershey]

nobody was wearing a seatbelt.

[John D]

You said "I hope the police are happy they gave a high speed persuit of this carload of dangerous criminals."

I ask, "How were the police to know they were just kids?" They did steal a car, who knows what else they might have done.

[jonascord]

They should have groveled more. After all, leos are there to be kowtowed to. It says right there on the badge... "KNEEL BEFORE ZOD!!!"