Police Chase Ends With Death Of Two Teens In Aurora: Civil Lawsuits By the Families to Follow?
Police chase that ended with two Aurora, Missouri teens dead leaves many questions unanswered. While the final investigative report is not yet complete, the Highway Patrol should release this report soon, the facts we do know about the wreck that ended a police chase gives rise to possible civil lawsuits. There maybe lawsuits or insurance claims available for family members to pursue should they chose to look into holding those at fault for the deaths financially responsible.
The facts known now are that two Aurora teens died at about 2:21 a.m. in a one-car crash during a police chase. Caleb M. Dunning, 18, and Brian T. Williams, died in the crash on Washington Street south of Business 60 and left morning family members and friends behind. A TV reports suggested one of the young men had a young child.
Dunning was the driver of a southbound 1997 Ford Mustang that ran off the left side of the road and hit a utility pole and tree as Aurora police were in pursuit. It is also reported that neither Dunning nor Williams were wearing seat belts.
The Aurora Police Chief Rick Batson said, “It does appear that everything was handled appropriately by the officer."
“We’ve taken a look at it,” said Police Chief Batson, who also, interestingly enough, serves as Aurora’s city manager. Batson has not reviewed the Highway Patrol's report whereas it is not out yet, but has spoken with the officers on duty at the time and reviewed internal evidence.
Claiming the chase lasted only about 3/4 of a mile, the police chief added, “It was a police chase of very short duration,” he said,
He said the car’s driver, Caleb M. Dunning, fled when an officer turned on his emergency lights to pull over Dunning’s 1997 Ford Mustang. He said the officer was three to four blocks behind Dunning’s car when it apparently lost control, ran off the road and struck a tree and utility pole. The officer pursued but did not drive at an excessive speed, Batson said.
An experienced personal injury lawyer will look into a possible civil rights violation and into auto insurance that might apply.
This is a tragedy and my thoughts and prayers go out to the families of these two young men.
