Opinion ID: 2446391
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: High-Speed Car Chase

Text: On September 26, 2003, Officers Crawford and Mitchell Rentz spotted a white Acura at the intersection of 8th and King Streets in Wilmington. Lamar Comer was driving the Acura, with Curtis Matthews in the front passenger seat. The Officers suspected that the men had stolen the Acura before evading Wilmington police earlier that day. During the earlier chase, the Acura had traveled at high speeds, disregarded traffic control devices, and nearly caused motor vehicle collisions. Crawford followed the Acura in a marked police car. After receiving confirmation that the suspects had stolen the Acura, Crawford activated the police car's emergency equipment to initiate a stop. Instead of stopping, the Acura turned left, struck a stopped car, and fled at a high speed. After ensuring that the Acura had not injured anyone in the struck vehicle, Crawford pursued the Acura. Crawford estimated that he had driven his car between 75 and 80 miles per hour, and that the Acura had reached speeds approaching 120 miles per hour. The pursuit covered either six blocks or seven tenths of a mile, during which the Acura disregarded three red traffic light signals. As both cars approached a residential area, Crawford became concerned for public safety and decided to terminate the pursuit. The Acura then ran a red light, and collided with Samuel Jones' car. Jones died shortly afterward.