An innocent woman is dead after a driver ran a red light and crashed into her vehicle during a police pursuit Saturday afternoon in DeKalb County, authorities said.
The crash happened at the intersection of Memorial Drive and North Hairston Road after the driver of a gold Infiniti SUV fled from two troopers, according to the Georgia State Patrol, which is investigating the deadly wreck.
At about 2:10 p.m., the troopers saw the vehicle allegedly speeding without a tag before running a red light, authorities said. Its driver, 25-year-old Arin Jamal Taylor, refused to stop and drove into a gas station, where a passenger got out of the moving vehicle, according to the GSP.
The troopers continued to pursue the Infiniti, which “fled recklessly through city streets,” the GSP said. Soon after, police said Taylor ran another red light at Memorial Drive and struck the Honda Civic that was being driven by 25-year-old Katharine Harris.
The Infiniti was disabled after the crash, and the suspect was apprehended after running behind a nearby gas station, according to the GSP.
Troopers went back to the crash scene and provided aid to Harris until emergency personnel arrived. But she was pronounced dead shortly after, the GSP said.
According to the GSP, Taylor, of Decatur, is facing charges of first-degree homicide by vehicle, driving under the influence, obstruction, fleeing, reckless driving, and driving with a suspended license.
He was also wanted by the Newton County Sheriff’s Office for fleeing, giving a false name and date of birth to a law enforcement officer, and driving on a suspended license. In Douglas County, he had outstanding failure to appear warrants, the GSP said.
Taylor was booked into the Newton County Jail, where he remained Tuesday on a $12,000 bond, according to online records. Authorities have not said if his passenger was also taken into custody.
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