Trooper placed on leave after chase ends in death

[beamer_ball]

http://www.tricities.com/tristate/tr...8-21-0028.html
THP trooper placed on administrative leave after teen dies in crash

Tuesday, Aug 21, 2007 - 10:01 PM

BY Nate Morabito

A cross marks the spot where 18 year-old Justin Thompson of Kingsport lost his life this weekend. Virginia State Police say the recent Sullivan North graduate slammed into a guardrail at the intersection of East Carters Valley Road and Wadlow Gap Highway in Scott County around three o'clock Sunday morning.

As a result of his death, the Tennessee Department of Safety has placed a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper assigned to Sullivan County on administrative leave with pay. The state made the decision regarding Trooper Kyle Cantwell yesterday.

According to the state, Cantwell, a three-year employee, engaged in a high-speed pursuit of the motorcycle driven by Thompson shortly before the accident that led to his death. The pursuit reportedly began when Cantwell clocked Thompson driving 140 miles per hour on Interstate 81 South. Cantwell reported the motorcycle exited I-81 onto Highway 36 before taking John B. Dennis Highway and Bloomingdale Road into Virginia, the Department of Safety said. According to the state, a Scott County deputy saw the crash happen at the intersection of East Carters Valley Road and Wadlow Gap Highway.

Now, several agencies including THP, Virginia State Police, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are all investigating the accident.

Since Sunday, Thompson's family has visited the accident scene daily. As state troopers investigated the crash Tuesday, Jeff Thompson held a picture of his son close.

"He always smiled, he never gave nobody no trouble,"? Thompson said. "I don't know what to say. I wish it hadn't ever happened."?

Thompson admits his son didn't make the best choice Sunday morning, but he says neither did Trooper Cantwell.

"I think he should have called the chase off a long time ago, got his tag number, called the house and picked him up,"? he said.

Thompson believes the trooper chased his son on-and-off for almost a half hour through two states.

Investigators are now taking a closer look at the events leading up to the crash. Virginia State Police are reconstructing the crash scene and examining Thompson's motorcycle. Meanwhile, forensic experts with the TBI are assisting agents from THP's Criminal Investigation Division to examine Trooper Cantwell's patrol car.

Thompson hopes the investigation provides answers and justice for his family. Friday would have been Justin Thompson's 19th birthday. Instead, it will be his funeral.

"Just because somebody's speeding doesn't give them the right to run them into the ground and kill them,"? Thompson said.

[NotSoSilentBob]

Boo frickity hoo. If you're doing 140 on 81, you don't have a damn thing to whine about.

[beamer_ball]

I love some of the comments on K-times article...
http://timesnews.net/comments.php?ty...le&ktn=9002641

One person stupidly asked "What person in their right mind chases a motorcycle going 140mph at three in the morning?"

[NotSoSilentBob]

Hmmm, perhaps the popo?

OTOH, what person in their right mind does 140 MPH on a motorcycle on Ft Henry Dr?

[Glory_Days]

how can the trooper be blamed?

[neutral88]

Lesson here:

Don't run from the law!!!!

[TheBeast]

Just further evidence of the decline of our society. "Our pampered little brat was out breaking the law and when he got caught it was the police's fault for trying bring him to justice."

How can you justify giving an 18 y/o one of these super bikes anyway, what do you expect them to do with it.

[imported_MoonlightGraham]

i'm really sorry the kid died, but while run from the cops? the police get such a bad name, simply because they are just doing there job.

[R0cketer]

This one sounds nuts. Hey the guy was doing 140, and running from the cops, but those cops shouldn't have chased him...I mean he may have had a perfectly good reason.

*rolls eyes*

And the very same type of people would have been the ones, if the police had let him go, and he collided with another vehicle, been complaining that the police didn't stop him.

[Ironlung]

If you run from the police, they should have the right to shoot your stupid ass. Too bad he died, but it's his own damn fault.