A police pursuit on LA Highway 82 ends in a fatal crash, leaving two people dead. An officer with the Patterson Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a Cadillac Eldorado driven by 39-year-old Joseph James of Franklin, but Trooper Thomas Gossen says the driver fled, reaching speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour.
“Mr. James lost control of his vehicle and struck a tree. All three occupants of that vehicle were unrestrained at the time of that crash. The driver, Mr. James, suffered some critical injuries and is still in the hospital,” said Gossen.
46-year-old Warren Joe Hines and 17-year-old Markqel James, both of Franklin were identified as the passengers. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
A toxicology sample was obtained from the driver. Gossen says it is unclear what motivated James to evade police.
“They are going to be looking into his background, checking him for warrants and different things like that, but unfortunately, he made the choice to try to evade the police with disastrous consequences,” said Gossen.
Gossen says the crash is a grim reminder of the importance of being properly restrained.
“We like to remind the public just in general about the importance of seatbelt usage but pulling over is important as well,” said Gossen.
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