Pursued Suspect Jumps to His Death

[bcjack]

Dec 28, 2006 3:22 pm US/Pacific

Motorist Being Pursued By CHP Falls To His Death
(CBS) TEMECULA, Calif. A motorist being pursued Thursday by the California Highway Patrol on a Temecula-area freeway got out of his vehicle and either fell or jumped to his death off an overpass to the highway below, authorities said.

The death on Interstate 15 occurred at the Winchester Road overpass about 2 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.

CHP officers were pursuing a man on southbound I-15 when the suspect got out of his vehicle at the Winchester Road exit and ran to the edge of the overpass, where he either slipped or jumped down to the freeway.

"The guy didn't want to stop for the officer," CHP information officer Larry Landeros said. "He got out of the vehicle and went to the edge and he landed on the 15."

Riverside area CHP information Officer Jaci Parent confirmed the man had been killed.

[SweetTaterPie]

I find it impossible to dredge up any tears, because the man was typical of thoughtless, selfish individuals. Suicidal or accidental doesn't matter, the death was tragic; but let's call him what he was. The fleeing individual was not a "motorist" but a criminal. Idiots who evade police in motor vehicles jeopardize countless innocent citizens. That is simply inexcusable. With me, pity ends when reckless endangerment begins.

We had a similar pursuit in my Area that ended with the idiot trying to run, but falling 30 from the bridge railing. Fortunate for him, he only sustained a broken arm, a few cracked ribs, and a moderate concussion.

[Tom]

Similar incident last night in CoCo. Woman involved in 11-82 (she was at fault, probably deuce) runs from car after Officer arrives and is struck by several cars and dies.

[AyatollahGondola]

I believe there was an incident here in Sac where a man fell or jumped from the freeway, highway 5 I think, and the CHP thought he got away, but he actully fell or crawled in such a place that he was not found until the next day or so. I think the family sued too.
Sketchy memory on this one, but I'm with you on the terminology being misused. But then, the press pretty much uses a dictionary of their own publication.