Toddler walks away from violent crash after police pursuit ends with PIT maneuver
By: -----
Joiner, AR - A toddler escaped a violent crash unharmed after his mother began a police pursuit that concluded with a PIT maneuver and an overturned vehicle.
The Arkansas State Police released dashcam video recounting the moments that led up to a crash that left a suspect's vehicle overturned off the side of the road. The chase reportedly on May 2 began when a driver, later identified as 23-year-old mother, failed to pull over for troopers who caught her speeding.
After leading a trooper on an extended pursuit, the trooper used a PIT maneuver to take the suspect's vehicle off the road, causing the car to spin around and flip onto its roof on the side of the road.
The trooper allegedly waited for backup with his gun drawn on the decommissioned vehicle, but the driver was not the first person to step out. Instead, a 3-year-old boy crawled out of the backseat and ran over to the officer.
"You're okay," the officer told the child. "Come right here baby, come here."
Shortly after, the child's mother crawled out as well. WMC reported that she was identified as Thalia Jones, and was charged with speeding, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, endangering a child, and unauthorized use of another person's vehicle to commit a crime.
Jones told authorities at the scene that the car belonged to her bofriend.
At the end of the clip released by the Arkansas State Police, the trooper could be seen grilling the mother while holding her child.