Last week a KCSO officer tried to stop a truck for erratic or reckless driving, he was alerted by KPD the license plate was stolen, the officer began pursuit.

The driver and passenger were 16 year old Powell High School students. Shortly after pursuit, the driver lost control after going over a railroad track and hit a tree. The driver was partially ejected and died. The passenger was not ejected but also died. My information is that the driver was laid to rest yesterday.

I have asked KCSO if the plate was found to have been stolen or not. A couple weeks ago, Knox Sheriffs Office began a pursuit in downtown Knoxville over an alleged inoperable brake light, that pursuit ended in death.

I visited the crash site of the two 16 year olds today. As a father of three adults myself, remembering my 16 year old (in particular sons, i have two) I could easily have seen them wanting to get home before talking to the police. So that they would answer questions in front of me or their mother.

These were students at Powell High, my understanding the young man was involved at Redemption Church. If the young man, had been guilty of anything (other than death) had he been found guilty by Juvenile Court Judge Tim Irwin, his record would be cleared in two years, when he turned 18.

Sheriff Spangler needs to stop these needless pursuits that are ending lives before they are suppose too.

Now, the argument back at me will be he should just pull over. 1. this pursuit was on a two lane rural dark road after 11 pm, how can a 16 year old trust it is a legit law enforcement officer and at 16 years of age he is unaware whether the officer is a rogue officer or an officer trained with deescalation training of juveniles. The officer should have simply called it in, kept looking for the truck BUT a high speed pursuit on Ball Camp Pike that ended in the death of two teenagers is just wrong.

Do Better!