BOOTHWYN, PA – On Wednesday afternoon, a police chase concluded in a fiery accident on a Pennsylvania highway, resulting in the deaths of four people, including a pregnant teenager. The car involved, a red Ford Taurus carrying seven people ages 16-21, lost control while being pursued and rammed into a bridge embankment on US 322 near Boothwyn.
The resultant crash led to the car catching fire, trapping 21-year-old driver Isaiah Miller and the passengers inside. On Thursday, Pennsylvania State Police reported that Miller, Ikeam Rodgers, and Kalyn Billips, both 20 years old, were pronounced dead at the scene.
The expectant 17-year-old girl was transferred to Crozier Medical Center, where both her and her unborn baby didn’t survive. Three other passengers, ranging from ages 16 to 20, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and are receiving treatment in a neighboring hospital.
Footage from security cameras depict a portion of the approximately 7-mile, five-minute pursuit along US 322, with state police visible in pursuit of the Taurus. Another video showcases the chase’s tragic end, as the Taurus strikes a cement bridge embankment and burst into flames. The clip further shows how a couple of cars narrowly avoided involving themselves in the accident.
According to investigators, the pursuit originated when the Taurus was pulled over by an undercover state trooper who suspected there was a connection to retail thefts from the Brinton Lake Shopping Center.
Observations made by the police noted the Taurus lingering at a stop sign outside the shopping center, followed by three to four people getting out and then reentering the car.
Once the police approached the vehicle, the occupants drove away at high speed, embarking on a perilous thrill ride, weaving through oncoming traffic, and overtaking other automobiles via the shoulder of the highway until the fatal collision transpired.
The accident resulted in a segment of Route 322 near Chichester Avenue being shut down for several hours.