A police officer is being charged after allegedly causing the deaths of two high school cheerleaders when he crashed into them during a high-speed chase with another vehicle. David Cauthron, 42, was chasing a suspect on New Year’s Eve when he collided head-on with the girls’ oncoming car – not involved in the chase.
Maggie Dunn, 17, and Caroline Gill, 16, were pronounced dead at the scene.
They had been traveling with Maggie’s brother, Liam Dunn, 20, who is in critical condition in hospital.
Mr. Cauthron, of the Addis Police Department, Louisiana, has been charged with two counts of negligent homicide and one count of negligent injury.
He was after 24-year-old suspect Tyquel Zander who allegedly stole a car after breaking into a residence.
Maggie and Caroline were remembered by their cheerleading squad at Brusly High School in Louisiana.
“As we mourn the tragic deaths of Maggie Dunn and Caroline Gill, please keep their families, friends and the BHS community in your thoughts and prayers,” the cheerleading team said on Facebook.
“Their enthusiasm and beaming smiles will be missed more than you can imagine.”
Principal Walt Lemoine added, “We are saddened by the loss to our school community and will do everything we can to help you and your child as you need.”
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Kenny Jones, a relative of Maggie and Liam, said, “We are asking for your prayers.”
In an emotional Facebook post, he wrote of Liam’s condition: “He will need surgery. Has a broken femur, tabula, left wrist, fractured skull and a few other issues.
“We ask for prayer. We don’t know why God took our daughter, but I bet she runs a shop there.”
Liam is a freshman at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
District Attorney Tony Clayton said Mr Cauthron is now on administrative leave and has “many questions to answer in relation to his speed and sheer negligence”.
“It is inexcusable that these children have not been able to start the new year, but we follow the facts first,” he told WBRZ.
“I just can’t understand why (the officer) was driving at that speed to chase this vehicle.
“This officer is facing some serious problems.”
Zanders was later arrested on the east side of the Mississippi.
He has been charged with home burglary, theft of a vehicle, aggravated flight and two counts of manslaughter in connection with the deaths of Dunn and Gill.