Witnesses who watched a car carrying three teens spin out of control and wreck are blasting Atlanta police -- saying officers did not do enough to help.
Two of the teens died and witnesses said they were being chased by an Atlanta police officer at the time.
A crumpled mess is all that is left of a car witnesses said was involved in high speed chase with Atlanta police.
Just after midnight witnesses said a single officer with his blue lights on was chasing the car north on Lawton Street in southwest Atlanta.
When the car reached the back of Jones Elementary School just south of Fair Street, the driver lost control.
The car crashed through a fence and ended up wedged between four pine trees on school property.
Two people inside died, the other survived the crash.
It took rescue crews about 90 minutes to extricate them from the vehicle. Identities were not immediately available.
Police said the car had been reported stolen Monday afternoon.
Police at the scene didn't talk to reporters but did tell witnesses that the officer was chasing a stolen car with three teens inside.
Those witnesses were also critical of the department's response once the wreck took place.
According to the witnesses it was residents and not police that called for an ambulance.
They also said people in the neighborhood used their own flashlights and personal tools hoping to free the victims -- all of this while the officers allegedly just watched.
Witnesses said speeds reached 60 to 70 miles per hour down residential side streets.
Police officials said officers broke off the chase when it got too dangerous.
Labels: Atlanta, police chase, teens dead
# posted by
Brian Vanderhoff @ 9:59 AM
