2 juveniles killed, 3 hurt in crash following police chase

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WSB-TV

GEORGIA — On February 3, 2018, at approximately 7:45 PM a veteran deputy of the Douglas County Sheriff’s office who is assigned to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety H.E.A.T. unit identified a gray 2006 Infiniti M 35 traveling south on Thornton Road in the area of W. Fork Blvd. A speed detection device was used to identify the vehicle’s speed at 69mph in a 45 mph zone. The deputy attempted a traffic stop on this vehicle and both the deputy and the gray Infiniti pulled into the Quiktrip parking lot located at the intersection of Maxham Road and Thornton. As the deputy began to exit his vehicle the driver sped off through the parking lot and back onto Thornton Road in a reckless manner southbound initiating a pursuit.

Based on the driver’s reckless driving and the fact that the deputy was able to see the driver as the only occupant of the vehicle, the pursuit was allowed to continue for approximately 3 miles. During this time the driver weaved in and out of traffic in an aggressive manner exceeding the speed limit and putting the public at risk. At one point the driver drove onto the concrete median separating the north and southbound lanes of Thornton Road. Once the vehicle crossed over Interstate 20 the vehicle lost a rear wheel and tire causing an increased risk to the motoring public. Based on these facts the deputy was authorized to utilize a P.I.T. maneuver and end the pursuit. Prior to being able to utilize the P.I.T. maneuver the driver of the vehicle failed to yield to a red-light and crossed into the intersection striking the trailer of a semi tractor-trailer that was crossing through the intersection. The vehicle traveled underneath the semi tractor-trailer until it came to rest on the other side and caught fire.

It was then that pursuing deputies realized that the vehicle was also occupied by four children under the age of 16. The driver of the vehicle as well as the front passenger, a 10-year-old child, we’re both killed as a result of the accident. Deputies were able to remove the remaining children from the burning vehicle as well as extinguish the fire.

The driver of the vehicle has been identified as Billy Frazier, age 30 of Atlanta, Georgia. At the time of the accident Mr. Frazier was driving on a suspended license, was on active probation in the state of Georgia, and was in possession of a stolen handgun. Mr. Frazier also possessed with the intent to distribute a large quantity of prescription medications, MDMA (Ecstasy), Cocaine and crack cocaine, Methamphetamine, and marijuana.

The accident scene and its follow up investigation were turned over to the Georgia State Patrol.

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