Three people, including a 2-year-old, were rushed to the hospital after a police chase ended with a horrific crash when the suspect drove his van into a church in west Charlotte late Wednesday.
The chase ensued around 9:30 p.m. when N.C. Highway Patrol troopers tried to pull the van over for having an expired license tag and the driver refused to stop. The chase continued until the van crashed into University Memorial Baptist Church on West Tyvola Road near Richard Street. It is believed that the 2-year-old was ejected from the van during the crash. A female passenger also suffered injuries.
The male driver attempted to flee the scene by foot, but was caught by officers.
All three people were transported to Carolinas Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.
It’s not abnormal to feel some nervousness from the sound of approaching emergency sirens, no matter how long you’ve been on the road. The good news is, that means they’re doing just what they are designed to do which is alert drivers of their presence so crews can make their way to and from the scene of an emergency. In order to assist firefighters and other emergency personnel in responding to emergencies always to yield to the right-of-way of these vehicles if you hear sirens and/or see lights. You can do so simply by moving your vehicle to the right. Also, stay calm and try not to panic. If you are being pulled over by a police officer, turn on your right turn signal and pull over as quickly and safely as possible. Your cooperation can go a long way in terms of road safety and helping police and emergency personnel.
At Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower, we can investigate all aspects of the accident and hold all parties accountable for your loss. Call us today and speak directly with one of our lawyers at 704-499-9000 or 877-374-5999 toll-free.