Four teenagers including high school football star aged 14 to 17 are killed in ... trends now
Four Florida teenagers have been killed after they were involved in a police car chase in which officers used the PIT maneuver causing them to spin out of control.
The four, who were between the ages of 14 and 17, attended Newberry High School at Newberry in Bradford County, northeast of Gainesville.
Two of the teens in the car died at the scene in the Waldo area, while the other two passed away from their injuries days later in hospital at UF Health Shands in Gainesville.
Jabril Cheevers and Lawrence McClendon Jr. were both Newberry High School students. McLendon was a sophomore defensive back for the football team.
Lawrence McClendon Jr., 17, was killed in the crash along with three others
McLendon was a sophomore defensive back for th Newberry High School football team
Four Florida teens, aged between 14 and 16, died in a police chase ending with a PIT maneuver, causing their car flip over and crash into a cement pole at 111mph
The incident occurred after their stolen SUV was spotted by police, leading to a high-speed pursuit by authorities who found it hard to keep up with the vehicle
The police pursuit began after an SUV was reported to have been stolen out of Gainesville. Only hours after the theft, the car was detected by a license plate reader.
Police were soon on their tail and a sheriff's deputy confirmed the SUV was stolen while following it and calling for backup.
Deputies verified that there were several people inside the vehicle and attempted to pull it over.
The vehicle appeared to be slowing down but then the driver hit the gas and sped away with the car reaching speeds of 111mph.
Police patrol vehicles were unable to keep up with the car because a device in their car prevents them from accelerating too fast.
At that point, the Florida Highway Patrol were called upon and a trooper continued the chase.
Another of the teens who lost his life was remembered in a tribute on Facebook
