Woman Struck, Killed by Driver Fleeing Police
According to WSOC TV, a man in a stolen SUV crashed into another car, killing the woman inside while trying to evade police.
Officials Say Crash Occurred after Chase Stopped
Rhonda Hambright sat at a traffic light on the corner of Highway 21 and Connector Road when the fatal accident occurred. Denzel Hillary, driving a stolen SUV, sped down Highway 21 after police tried to pull him over.
A few minutes later, Hillary crashed into multiple vehicles before smashing into Hambright’s car.
WSOC TV reports that Hambright died instantly. Following the crash, Hillary attempted to escape the scene on foot but was later apprehended. Hillary faces multiple felony charges.
Although officials say the officer who tried to pull over Hillary halted the chase before the crash occurred, investigators are looking into dash cam footage to see if the proper protocol was followed.
Motor Vehicle Crash Statistics
Courtesy of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), here are some facts regarding motor vehicle crashes in 2014:
- 32,675 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in the United States.
- An estimated 2.34 million people were injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes.
- For passenger vehicle occupants who survived fatal crashes in 2014, only 15 percent were unrestrained.
- Over the past 10 years, there has been a reduction of nearly 25 percent in the number of fatalities on the United States’ roadways.
