Parents of Teenagers Killed During Police Chase Sue City
The Baytown Police were in pursuit of two shoplifters when the chase became deadly on October 19th in 2012. The report came in that Jennifer Jenkins and Shannon Joe Chauncey had stolen pillows and a comforter from a local Sears. When they were stopped in front of the department store by detectives who witnessed the event, the two suspects rammed their car and led a chase for almost three miles. The chase ended when the pickup truck with Jenkins and Chauncey crashed into a car waiting at a stoplight at Garth Road and Rollingbrook Drive. Inside that car was a 16 year old and 17 year old boy from Sterling High School. Shawn Williams did not survive the impact of the crash. Shay Hollingshead suffered major injuries and remains in a wheelchair. The parents of these two boys have now filed a lawsuit against the city of Baytown. They have alleged that the Baytown police used a spike strip knowing of the possible dangers. Hitting it caused the shoplifters to lose control of their vehicle and crash into the innocent teenagers. “For pillows and pillow sheets does not warrant over 90 miles an hour,” said Shawn Williams, Sr., Shawn’s father. “This is not the Wild West. This is the real world.” Auto accidents are deadly and can change families forever. It’s a small consolation but if you have lost a loved one due to the negligence of a third party, there are ways of seeking retribution. Filing a wrongful death lawsuit can provide compensation which can pay for costly hospital bills and funeral arrangements. Contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in New Braunfels who can review your case today.
