Summary:
A police pursuit in Chatham County, Georgia, ended in a fatal crash after a fleeing Nissan Murano overturned on GA-204.
According to the police report, the incident happened on , while Georgia State Patrol units were patrolling near GA-17 and GA-204. Troopers overheard that a Chatham County Police officer had attempted to stop a white Nissan Murano with a broken rear window on Canebrake Road, but the driver fled.
The Nissan reportedly drove into the driveway of a private residence, went through a backyard, circled around a house, and then returned to Canebrake Road before continuing toward GA-25. Troopers later located the vehicle traveling northbound on GA-25 before it entered GA-204 eastbound.
When troopers activated their blue lights and siren, the Nissan again refused to stop. The vehicle continued fleeing east on GA-204 before making a U-turn near Sweetwater Station Drive and accelerating westbound.
As the pursuit continued, the Nissan approached a group of motorists and attempted to pass them recklessly. According to the report, the vehicle nearly struck a Dodge Charger that was attempting to yield to the right.
Troopers noted that the pursuit was approaching the I-95 corridor, an area described in the report as having heavy vehicle traffic and possible foot traffic nearby. Because stop sticks were not feasible and no other units were available for a box-in maneuver, a PIT maneuver was used to try to end the chase.
During the PIT maneuver, the Nissan slipped off the push bumper, causing the driver to lose control. The vehicle struck the center median concrete barrier at an angle and overturned several times.
The driver, later identified as Aimee Youmans Padgett, was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. The Nissan came to rest on its roof in the median area of GA-204 westbound.
Troopers requested EMS and fire personnel and checked on Padgett at the scene. Because she had serious visible injuries and possible spinal trauma, troopers did not move her before emergency crews arrived.
Padgett was transported by ambulance to the hospital, where she later died from her injuries. The Chatham County Coroner’s Office was notified, and specialized crash investigators responded to the scene.
This chase shows how quickly a fleeing vehicle can create a life-threatening situation for the driver, officers, and innocent people nearby. What started as a traffic stop ended with a pursuit, a PIT maneuver, a rollover crash, and a tragic loss of life.
Police Report:
On 1/19/2023, Trooper Cadet C. Nusall and I were patrolling the area of GA-17 and GA-204. As we were patrolling, we overheard a Chatham County PD officer attempt to stop a car that fled from him just south of our location. I communicated with Officer R. Santoro, who later stated to me that, he attempted to perform traffic stop with a white Nissan Murano with the back window glass broken out, bearing a Georgia license plate on Canebrake Road. The Nissan fled into the drive of a private residence, drove through the back yard and around a house then re-entered back onto Canebrake and continued to flee eastbound towards GA-25. Cadet Nusall and I located the Nissan traveling northbound on GA-25 before entering onto GA-204 eastbound. We activated our emergency blue lights and siren and caught up with the Nissan. Cadet Nusall advised the Troop F Communications Center that we were attempting to stop the same vehicle that just fled from Officer Santoro. Just as the Nissan fled from Officer Santoro, the Nissan disregarded our emergency blue lights and siren and initiated a vehicle pursuit with us. The Nissan continued to flee eastbound on GA-204. When the Nissan approached Sweetwater Station Drive, the Nissan made a U-Turn and accelerated away, heading westbound on GA-204. As we continued to pursue the Nissan, we approached a small group of motorists. The Nissan Murano, driving recklessly, attempted to pass the group and almost struck a Dodge Charger attempting to yield to the right. After passing the group of motorists, the Nissan continued to flee westbound on GA-204 heading towards I-95. Having patrolled this area for several years and from experience, this area of GA-204 and I-95 typically has high foot traffic from the populated homeless camps as well as high motoring traffic from I-95. Considering that we were quickly approaching the I-95 corridor creating an immediate concern for the safety of innocent bystanders. Also considering that it was not feasible to utilize stop sticks and that there were no other units available to execute the box in method to terminate the chase, I instructed Cadet Nusall to utilize the P.I.T. Maneuver to terminate the pursuit. Cadet Nusall, matched the Nissan’s speed, touched, and turned into the vehicle to perform the P.I.T. Maneuver. The Nissan slipped off the push bumper, causing the driver to sway and lose control. The Nissan then struck the center median concrete barrier with its front end at an angle. Causing the Nissan to overturn several times. As the Nissan overturned, the driver, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle. The driver of the Nissan came to a final uncontrolled rest in the left lane of GA-204 west. The Nissan Murano came to a final uncontrolled rest on its roof, facing northeast in the left median of GA-204 west. We advised the Troop F Communications Center of the crash and requested EMS and Fire personnel to assist medically with the driver. I checked the driver, later identified as Ms. Aimee Youmans Padgett. After the crash, I was able to check Ms. Youmans Padgett’s pulse and breathing at that time, Ms. Youmans Padgett did have a pulse and was breathing. Due to the serious nature of the crash and having serious visible injuries, I decided not to move Ms. Youmans Padgett from her position, to avoid the possibility of further injury to her in the event she sustained a spinal injury. EMS and fire arrived on scene and began to medically treat Ms. Youmans Padgett. Ms. Youmans Padgett was transported by ambulance to the hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries. The Chatham County Coroner’s Office was notified. Troop F Command was notified and SFC R. Rozier arrived on scene to work the crash. TFC Lyles with the Troop F SCRT unit arrived on scene and initiated a more through crash investigation. We requested the Chatham County Forensics Unit Sgt S. Cole to assist with photographing the crash scene. TFC Champion was able to notify the next of kin about the incident.
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