Grief counselors were at Newberry High School all week after several teenagers were killed in a crash during a vehicle chase involving state troopers in Bradford County.
Newberry city officials tell TV20 that all four of the teenagers, between the ages of 14 and 16, involved in a wreck in the Waldo area last Saturday have died. Two died on the scene and the other two died in the hospital from their injuries days later. Two of the teenagers are Newberry High School students.
Bradford County Sheriff’s deputies say the incident started with an SUV stolen in Gainesville and was detected by a license plate reader hours later. Gainesville Police Department detectives say the vehicle theft was not connected to a homicide that occurred in the area.
A sheriff’s deputy confirmed the SUV was stolen and followed while waiting for backup. The deputy could tell multiple people were in the SUV. Once backup arrived, they attempted to pull over the SUV. It slowed down and then sped off.
Deputies pursued the vehicle at speeds of more than 100 mph. The deputies got to speeds of 111 mph before their patrol vehicle governors kicked in preventing them from accelerating further.
Unable to keep up with the vehicle, deputies pulled back and allowed a Florida Highway Patrol trooper to continue the chase. The trooper rammed the vehicle and used a PIT maneuver, causing the SUV to roll over and collide with a cement pole.
Authorities say two of the teenagers in the SUV were wearing ankle monitors and three had active warrants.
Clarification: A prior version of this article suggested a connection between a Gainesville homicide and the stolen SUV based on information provided by law enforcement sources. Gainesville P.D. detectives have since clarified they do not believe the incidents are connected.