A police pursuit Friday of a stolen black Cadillac Escalade from Manchester ended in Rutherford County with a fatal crash. The vehicle was stolen from Coffee County Funeral Chapel.
According to thunderradio.com The pursuit included Manchester officers and deputies from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department before Rutherford County took over. At one time the Escalade was traveling on the wrong side of I-24, driving into oncoming traffic.
Lt. Bill Miller, spokesman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol says the pursuit ended in a head-on collision at the intersection of South Church Street (Highway 231) and Veterans Parkway in Murfreesboro.
Three vehicles were involved in the crash that killed 28-year old Jennifer Campos of Murfreesboro. Authorities said that her 7-month old infant female daughter survived the crash, because of a child restraint seat. The driver of the stolen vehicle was airlifted from the scene.
The driver of the stolen SUV told police that he was 26-year old Demario Watkins of Murfreesboro. It has been learned that the suspect gave officials the wrong name. He’s now been identified as 28-year old Garieon Simmons.
The suspect continued a short distance after hitting the Campos car on South Church when he reportedly crossed the median and hit another vehicle head-on. 27-year old Katrina Sadler received non-life-threatening injuries in that crash. Simmons was airlifted from the scene with injuries.
Simmons, who is now in jail, was charged with vehicular homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, driving on a revoked license, evading arrest, violation of probation and being a habitual motor vehicle offender.
(Thunderradio.com)