Tara Oskam and David Torrez, 16, killed, Alejandro Torrez, 16, charged in crash following police chase at 52nd Street SE and Broadmoor Avenue SE in Kentwood, Michigan
Michigan State Police chase leaves two 2 dead in Kentwood
The suspect vehicle, traveling east on 52nd Street SE, crashed into a north bound vehicle, killing the driver. Grand Rapids resident Tara Oskam was pronounced dead at the scene.
A passenger of the suspect vehicle was also pronounced dead at the scene.
Family: Deadly crash heard in victim’s last call
Oskam’s uncle said that she had been returning to Calvin College from playing euchre when the crash occurred. She had been on the phone when she screamed, and then an explosion was heard.
'I called her name ... over and over': Roommate recalls fatal crash on phone
"I called her name, over and over and over again with nothing, and I heard sirens and I heard a man's voice and I knew something was wrong."
Deadly police chase crash suspect was driving mom’s car
Michigan Secretary of State records show that Torrez has never had a driver’s license, but he had been caught driving three times previously.
Michigan police: Chase that ended with 2 dead was justified
Lt. Chris McIntire says he reviewed in-car video and talked with the trooper following the chase, which began Saturday night with an attempted traffic stop of a car going 90 mph in Kentwood, near Grand Rapids. McIntire says he believes the pursuit was justified.
Fleeing driver in crash that killed 2 had no license, records show
He was cited three times last year - in March, April and May - for driving without a license, Secretary of State records showed.
TRAGEDY: Boyfriend discovers scene of girlfriend’s deadly crash minutes after it happened
Oskam’s boyfriend, Chad Beisel, said Oskam was driving back from a euchre tournament at her church in Cutlerville at the time of the crash. He was following a few minutes behind her. He had spoken to Oskam on the phone only a few minutes before he came upon the fiery crash.
'Devastated' family remembers student killed by suspect fleeing police
About 250 people filled the pews at Byron Center First Christian Reformed Church to lay Oskam to rest after her life was taken tragically in a car crash on March 11. Oskam's casket was surrounded by flowers and photographs from family and friends.
Teen's car in police chase exceeded 100 mph at impact of deadly crash
Kent County prosecutors filed the second-degree murder charges on Wednesday. The complaint alleges that Torrez acted with intent to kill, do great bodily harm or in wanton and willful disregard of the likelihood that his acts would cause death or great bodily harm.
Dashcam shows MSP chase that ended in deadly crash
The chase took place over about six miles and lasted about five minutes. The suspect car was quite a distance in front of the trooper when the deadly crash happened.
Trial begins for teen who fled police, caused double-fatal crash
Stapley was the first witness to testify in the trial for Alejandro Torrez, who is accused of causing the crash that killed Oskam and Torrez' 15-year-old cousin, David Torrez.
Why every fatality from a crash is not legally a wrongful death
After someone dies in a motor-vehicle accident, grieving family members and friends are often left with many questions. What caused the accident? Could it have been avoided? What do they do now that their loved one is gone?
Sometimes a fatal collision happens through no one's fault. Crashes caused by weather and road conditions, or by wildlife in the roadway, are examples. But when a fatal crash is caused by negligence, then family members should pursue a wrongful death claim, to uphold the victim's rights and begin the financial recovery process. Learn more about wrongful death claims here.
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