Tearinie Bush, 23, was killed in a vehicular crash while she was running from police during a traffic stop in Charlotte, NC. A 23-year-old passenger was seriously injured in the crash.
On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, at around 11:35 p.m., a officer was attempting to make a traffic stop on a 2002 Buick Park Avenue with no registration plate on West Boulevard near I-77. While the officer was approaching the Buick on foot, the vehicle, driven by Tearinie fled and turned onto Barringer Drive and proceeded at a high rate of speed.
The officer then entered his vehicle and deactivated his emergency equipment. The officer did not chase the vehicle, but began to travel in the last known direction of the Buick.
As the Officer approached Remount Road at Barringer Drive, he could see brake lights and smoke in a yard on Barringer Drive. As he got closer, the officer observed that a single vehicle had crashed, and further recognized this as the Buick that fled his traffic stop.
The officer immediately called for Medic for both injured parties. Upon Medic’s arrival, the female passenger was transported to Atrium Health’s Carolinas Medical Center with serious injuries. Tearinie however, was pronounced deceased on the scene.
Witnesses on scene stated the Buick was traveling on Barringer Drive at a high rate of speed when approaching Remount Road. Evidence indicates that upon approaching the intersection, the Buick struck the curb and then a pole. The Buick then continued and crossed over Remount Road.
The vehicle then ran off the road to the right and sideswiped a tree. As the vehicle continued off the road, it traveled into the yard on Barringer Drive where it came to rest after striking a second tree. The driver identified as Tearinie was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown into the passenger side of the vehicle during the crash.
The front seat passenger was wearing a seat belt and is still alive.
Excessive speed is a contributing factor for the driver of the Buick at this time. Alcohol is suspected, officials say.
