Police Chase Goes Wrong

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- The death toll climbed to eight in a crash tied to a police pursuit in central California, authorities said Sunday.

An 8-year-old injured in Saturday's crash died at a hospital that night, said John Maxfield of the California Highway Patrol.

The collision occurred when police tried to stop a Dodge Neon over a traffic infraction in Dinuba, said CHP officer Felipe Martinez. Dinuba is about 30 miles southeast of Fresno.

The Neon fled and ran a stop sign before colliding with a GMC Sierra pickup, Martinez said.
Four of the five children in the pickup -- ages 1, 3, 4 and 7 -- were ejected and died at the scene, Martinez said. Three adults in the Neon also were killed.

The fifth child, the 8-year-old, was airlifted to a hospital before dying, Maxfield said.
Two more adults were taken to hospitals. Their conditions were not available Sunday. The collision was under investigation.


This story pisses me off. It makes me wonder what the policy is for a police chase. It also makes me wonder if common sense is just out the window when a chase ensues. Chasing a car in a populated area doesn't make sense to me ESPECIALLY if its just a mere traffic infraction. There are 8 people, 5 of them BABIES, dead because of some prick who ran a stop sign. I understand the initial pursuit. Cops can't go around letting people break the law but once it gets to dangerous speeds and in a heavily populated area, when does common sense kick in? When does a cop say "ok, we're going 110 mph in the middle of a freaking busy ass intersection MAYBE, just MAYBE we shouldn't pursue this guy? It is just a stop sign violation."?!?! Ok, they're in hot pursuit of a murderer, child molesters, gang banger, FBI's 4th most wanted, dude who just robbed the 1st National Bank and killed the tellers and customers, a cop killer.. I get that. BUT A STOP SIGN VIOLATION? WTF?!?!?