Nov 3, 2009 5:41 pm US/Central
Woman Killed When Van Tries To Flee Police
Police: Drug Suspects Were Trying To Escape Undercover Officers
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Valerie Davis, 42, was killed Tuesday when a van driven by two drug suspects -- allegedly fleeing from police -- crashed into her car in Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood.
CBS
Chicago police said they believe two fleeing drug suspects are responsible for killing a South Side mother in a horrific car crash. But CBS 2's Derrick Blakley spoke with the woman's family and they were wondering if a police chase contributed to her death.
Chicago police insisted there was no chase, high speed or otherwise, and that the two suspects killed Valerie Davis, 42, when they hit her car.
But relatives said they want more answers about the circumstances surrounding the police pursuit.
"It's gonna be a heavy loss on all of us, especially her parents, who relied upon her a great deal," said Charlene Davis, the victim's aunt.
Grieving family members were still stunned as they gathered at the victim's Woodlawn home. She lived less than three blocks from where she died, killed Tuesday morning when two drug suspects in a green van crushed her Pontiac sedan as they fled from police along 63rd Street.
Jackie Brown, who witnessed the crash, said the van "probably was going 70, 80 miles an hour. … He was bookin' down the street."
Brown's Dodge sedan was severely damaged when both the fleeing van and Davis' Pontiac Bonneville careened into his car. Brown and a police officer tried to revive Davis, but couldn't.
"We tried to call her: 'Miss ... miss.' I tapped her on the shoulder a couple of times and she never gave any motion like she was breathing or anything," said Brown.
Police said they stopped the van at 63rd Street and King Drive around 7 a.m., but the suspects rammed two police cars to escape. The suspects they tried to run over police officers and, fearing for his life, an officer fired one shot at the van but missed.
Minutes later, the van struck Valerie Davis's car. But her family is skeptical that there was no chase.
"I thought a law was passed that they wouldn't chase people and if it's just a drug dealer, you can catch him down the road somewhere. If he's doing wrong, he gonna do wrong again, so you have an opportunity to catch him. My niece don't have no more opportunities. Hers is all over with," Charlene Davis said.
Authorities said Chicago police and Drug Enforcement Administration officers were conducting surveillance on the two suspects for dealing heroin. After the crash, the suspects took off on foot but were caught a short time later. They're in custody, but there was no word on charges as of 5:35 p.m.
No police officers were injured during the incident. The drug suspects told police they were hurt in the crash, so they were taken to Saint Bernard Hospital as a precautionary measure.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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