Teens killed in police chase

Alabama Troopers said officers in South Pittsburg, Tenn., began pursuing the teens ‘ who both lived in a foster home ‘ when they crashed into a pickup truck near Rainsville about 7 p.m. Monday.

Troopers said in a statement released Tuesday that Natasha (Wilson) Carter, 17, and Teri Stanford, 16, both of Winchester, Tenn., were pronounced dead at the scene on Highway 35.

The driver of the pickup, James Grant Radford, 57, of Rainsville, was taken to Huntsville Hospital in serious condition. A hospital spokesman said Tuesday the patient requested privacy about his condition.

Authorities say the Jeep was stolen from a home in the Maple Bend subdivision near the girls’ foster home earlier Monday.

Tennessee state troopers said they were not involved in the chase and a South Pittsburg police dispatcher said officers were not available to discuss the chase.

South Pittsburg city administrator Tom Landers said the chase started when police received a report of a red Jeep speeding in an area near a downtown park. He said the car had been reported stolen, and when officers arrived ‘the girls took off.’

Landers said South Pittsburg officers pursued the vehicle to Scottsboro, Ala., where ‘Alabama law enforcement agencies took over.’ He said the officers were returning late Monday when they were notified of the crash and were asked to come to the accident scene.

He said police in such situations normally pursue any felon suspect to another jurisdiction and ‘try to keep them in view until a local law enforcement group takes over.’

‘It’s surely an unfortunate situation,’ Landers said. ‘It’s two young girls and it’s very unfortunate. You always wish something like that wouldn’t happen.’