Four Florida teenagers died after being involved in a police chase in which officers used a maneuver designed to stop a car, but caused it to spin out of control.
The four, who were between 14 and 16 years old, attended Newberry High School in Bradford County, northeast of Gainesville.
Two of the teens in the car died at the Waldo-area scene, while the other two died from their injuries days later at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville.
Jabril Cheevers and Lawrence McClendon Jr. were students at Newberry High School. McLendon was a sophomore defensive back on the football team.
Lawrence McClendon Jr. died in the crash along with three other people.
McLendon was a sophomore defensive back for the Newberry High School football team.
Four Florida teenagers, ages 14 to 16, were killed in a police chase that ended with a PIT maneuver, causing their car to overturn and crash into a cement pole at 111 mph.
The incident occurred after police spotted his stolen van, prompting a high-speed chase by authorities who found it difficult to keep up with the vehicle.
The police chase began after a pickup truck was reported stolen in Gainesville. Just a few hours after the theft, the car was detected by a license plate reader.
Police were soon behind them and a Bradford County sheriff’s deputy confirmed that the van had been stolen as they followed him and called for backup.
The agents verified that there were several people inside the vehicle and attempted to stop it.
The vehicle appeared to be slowing, but then the driver stepped on the accelerator and accelerated, reaching a speed of 111 mph.
Police patrols were unable to keep up with the car because a device in their vehicle prevented them from accelerating too much.
At that point, the Florida Highway Patrol was called and a trooper continued the chase.
Another of the teenagers who lost their lives was remembered in a tribute on Facebook
Two of the teenagers traveling in the car died at the scene in the Waldo area, while the other two died from their injuries days later.
The officer then rammed the side of the vehicle using the PIT (precision immobilization technique) maneuver. This caused the vehicle to overturn and crash into a cement pole.
The controversial maneuver requires police to hit the back of a moving car and spin it around, causing the car to stop while officers surround it.
“The Trooper made intentional contact with the Honda, causing it to decelerate,” an FHP statement said.
‘The soldier used speed reduction to perform a precision immobilization technique (PIT maneuver) on the fleeing Honda to stop the threat created by the fleeing suspect. The Honda subsequently overturned before hitting a cement pole.
It took crews more than an hour and a half to remove all the victims from the wreck. WCJB.
“We confirmed with the Gainesville Police Department that they still had that car registered as stolen, and the officer waited until he had three backup units with him before initiating the traffic stop,” said Col. Brad Smith, sheriff’s chief deputy. Bradford County. Office, he said.
It took crews more than an hour and a half to remove all the victims from the wreck.
Bradford County sheriff’s deputies stopped pursuing the vehicle after reaching the county line because their own patrol cars could not keep up.
“They started to stop on the shoulder of the road, but before they came to a complete stop, they accelerated again and that’s when the chase began.”
Smith said Bradford County deputies stopped pursuing the vehicle after reaching the county line because their own patrol cars couldn’t keep up.
“The (Florida) Highway Patrol was, at the time, the only vehicle that could really keep up with them,” Smith said. “Our vehicles can’t match the speed they were going, but we continued with one of our units to try to stay as close as possible as a backup FHP unit until Alachua County units could catch up to them.”
Authorities later added that two of the teens who died in a van were wearing ankle monitors, while three had active warrants, it reports. WLBT. Some of the occupants also appeared to be wearing balaclavas.
“It is with great sadness that I share that the two Newberry High School students who were in a serious car accident last weekend have now passed away from their injuries,” Newberry High School Principal James Sheppard wrote in a message to parents. .
“Thank you for keeping these two families in your thoughts during this difficult time.”
“Lawrence (McClendon) was a great kid to be around and have in our program,” Newberry head football coach Ed Johnson said.
As a football player, he was competitive, talented and relentless, with a knack for making big plays. “He will be greatly missed by everyone in the Panther football family.”