Four teenagers between the ages of 14 and 16 were killed in a police chase that ended in a deadly crash after officers used a maneuver designed to stop the car, but caused it to spin out of control. The teens attended Newberry High School in Bradford County, northeast of Gainesville. Two of the teens died at the scene, while the other two passed away days later at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville.
Jabril Cheevers and Lawrence McClendon Jr. were both students at Newberry High School, with McClendon being a sophomore defensive back for the school’s football team. The McClendon family has set up a GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses.
The police pursuit began after an SUV was reported stolen from Gainesville. Hours later, the car was detected by a license plate reader, and police were soon on their tail. A Bradford County sheriff’s deputy confirmed the SUV was stolen as they followed and called for backup. Deputies attempted to pull over the vehicle, but it appeared to be slowing down before speeding away at speeds of 111mph.
Police patrol vehicles were unable to keep up with the car because a device in their cars prevents them from accelerating too fast. At that point, the Florida Highway Patrol was called and a trooper continued the chase. The trooper then used a PIT (precision immobilization technique) maneuver, hitting the side of the vehicle and causing it to roll over and crash into a cement pole.
The maneuver requires police to hit the back of a moving car and spin it around, causing the car to stop while officers surround it. A statement from the Florida Highway Patrol said that the trooper made intentional contact with the Honda, causing it to decelerate, and then used the PIT maneuver to stop the threat created by the fleeing suspect.
It took crews over an hour-and-a-half to pull all of the victims out of the wreck. We confirmed with the Gainesville Police Department that they still had that car entered as stolen, and the officer waited until he had three backup units with him before he initiated the traffic stop,” said Col. Brad Smith, chief deputy for the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office.
The crash was later revealed to have been fatal for four teenagers who were wearing ankle monitors and had active warrants. Some of the occupants also appeared to be wearing ski masks. The community has come together to mourn the loss of the two Newberry High School students who died in the crash, with a message from the school’s principal expressing gratitude for parents’ thoughts during this difficult time.
The head football coach at Newberry High School remembered McClendon as a “great kid to be around and have in our program,” saying that he was competitive, talented, and relentless with a knack for making big plays. He will be truly missed by everyone in the Panther football family.
