Gabriel M Cooper,Nasir Youk Obituary, Death; – The actions taken by the police during a pursuit that resulted in a crash, which claimed the lives of three teenagers last month in Limerick, Pennsylvania, were deemed lawful by the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday.
An investigation conducted by the D.A.’s office concluded that there were no infractions committed by the police throughout the incident.
Among the deceased teenagers, two were students at Owen J. Roberts High School, while the third was a former student. They have been identified as Gabriel M. Cooper, 17, Nasir Youk, 17, and Saniyah Newsuan, 17.
A fourth teenager sustained serious injuries.
“This tragic crash, which resulted in the serious injury of one teenager and the loss of three others, has left three families mourning the death of their children,” stated District Attorney Kevin Steele in a press release. “We, along with the community, share in their sorrow and loss.”
The incident occurred shortly after 9 p.m. on June 3.
Limerick police were dispatched following a 911 call reporting a theft in progress at the Target store located on Ridge Pike.
According to the D.A.’s office, a Limerick officer arrived to observe a Toyota Camry being driven without headlights as it exited the Target parking lot onto Kline Road.
The driver then made a left turn onto West Ridge Pike, prompting the officer to activate the emergency lights and siren of the patrol vehicle.
The driver of the Camry subsequently fled with police in pursuit. In the 300 block of West Ridge Pike, the Camry driver lost control of the vehicle. The car veered off the roadway, traversed a grassy area for 91 feet, struck a utility pole, collided with a stone retaining wall, and subsequently became airborne.
Aerial footage from Chopper 6 revealed a severely damaged vehicle in the center of West Ridge Pike, with debris scattered across the roadway and a collapsed wall.
The D.A.’s office reported that the investigation revealed the Camry was driven 1.8 miles on West Ridge Pike in 1 minute and 33 seconds, reaching speeds between 70 and 92 miles per hour.
Investigators noted that the driver did not possess a Pennsylvania driver’s license. The investigation concluded that the crash was caused by the inexperience of the driver operating the vehicle at a high speed.
