IRVING, TX — Four suspects driving a stolen vehicle died this week after they crashed off the Interstate 35E ramp in Irvine, near Dallas. Police were actively chasing the vehicle at high speeds at the time of the collision.
The incident has raised questions from local media, given it is the second such chase ending in an accident in the same week. Further, it marked the 515th such incident since 2018, making this an average week.
According to CBS News' Texas I-Team, the Thursday morning chase ended in the deaths of Sabria Denise Lacey, 21, Anthony Isaiah Lisbon, 21, DeAvion Raejon Aubert, 22, and Robert Alexander Gowans Jr., 21. The chase began at about 2:00 a.m. when the vehicle's driver refused to stop for police.
At approximately 02:12 a.m. dashcam video shows the car plunging off of the ramp to the roadway below.
Irving Police Department (IPD) Public Information Officer Anthony Alexander told reporters, "Officers are required to constantly monitor the situation as they're in pursuit of a vehicle. I will say that times goes fast, or it seems like it goes fast when you're in a pursuit. But it's their job to make sure that they're being safe at all times."
The CBS report revealed that of the 515 Irving police chases, just one officer was disciplined for failing to follow the department's pursuit policy. That policy says, in part, "Officers and supervisors involved in a vehicle pursuit are required to continuously evaluate the need to immediately apprehend the suspect against the risks created by continuing the pursuit. Vehicle pursuits are not always predictable, and decisions made pursuant to this policy shall be evaluated according to the totality of the circumstances reasonably known at the time of the pursuit."
Of these pursuits, 137 of them (which equals approximately one in every four) either reached or exceeded 100 mph, and 76 resulted in a crash.
IPD has not yet confirmed whether the pursuing officers acted in accordance to the chase policy, presumably as the investigation has only just begun.
In a statement posted to X, and Facebook, the Department explained, "Irving PD has initiated an investigation into this matter. Due to the pending investigation, release of information will be limited moving forward. Additionally, notifications to next of kin will be made by the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office."
The incident has raised questions from local media, given it is the second such chase ending in an accident in the same week. Further, it marked the 515th such incident since 2018, making this an average week.
According to CBS News' Texas I-Team, the Thursday morning chase ended in the deaths of Sabria Denise Lacey, 21, Anthony Isaiah Lisbon, 21, DeAvion Raejon Aubert, 22, and Robert Alexander Gowans Jr., 21. The chase began at about 2:00 a.m. when the vehicle's driver refused to stop for police.
At approximately 02:12 a.m. dashcam video shows the car plunging off of the ramp to the roadway below.
Irving Police Department (IPD) Public Information Officer Anthony Alexander told reporters, "Officers are required to constantly monitor the situation as they're in pursuit of a vehicle. I will say that times goes fast, or it seems like it goes fast when you're in a pursuit. But it's their job to make sure that they're being safe at all times."
The CBS report revealed that of the 515 Irving police chases, just one officer was disciplined for failing to follow the department's pursuit policy. That policy says, in part, "Officers and supervisors involved in a vehicle pursuit are required to continuously evaluate the need to immediately apprehend the suspect against the risks created by continuing the pursuit. Vehicle pursuits are not always predictable, and decisions made pursuant to this policy shall be evaluated according to the totality of the circumstances reasonably known at the time of the pursuit."
Of these pursuits, 137 of them (which equals approximately one in every four) either reached or exceeded 100 mph, and 76 resulted in a crash.
IPD has not yet confirmed whether the pursuing officers acted in accordance to the chase policy, presumably as the investigation has only just begun.
In a statement posted to X, and Facebook, the Department explained, "Irving PD has initiated an investigation into this matter. Due to the pending investigation, release of information will be limited moving forward. Additionally, notifications to next of kin will be made by the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office."
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Comments
2024-02-04T00:22-0600 | Comment by: Les
Oh well. Play stupid games win stupid prizes.
2024-02-04T06:46-0600 | Comment by: August
What if when the car went off the fly over it landed on innocent folks below. Pursuits can lead to the officers chasing them. Unless it a crime where murder is involved, what's the point? If they have the license number can't they be tracked down that way. The occupants in this case were in their early 20s; who knows what stupid they were up too. In the end the driver killed them.
2024-02-04T15:10-0600 | Comment by: Rocco
I have this philosophy; The first lawbreaker is responsible for anything that occurs in response to the offense. If they hadn't stolen the car, they would all be alive today.
2024-02-04T17:05-0600 | Comment by: Bruce
August: Stolen vehicle so having the license number is a useless point. Pursuits are inherently dangerous but allowing criminals who have stolen, possibly by force, to simply drive off is not an option in law enforcement. People who flee usually have additional criminal history and many have active warrants as well. Those in the vehicle likely know the vehicle was stolen so they are complicit in their own demise.
2024-02-05T06:02-0600 | Comment by: Kent
Four Suspects? Really? How about four criminals, placing Police & innocent American Citizens in immenent Danger. They got what they deserved. End of Story.
2024-02-05T08:45-0600 | Comment by: john
Nice job Officers, 4-more idiots disposed of. the end.