A Jonesboro woman accused of
killing an innocent Peachtree City motorist in a crash while she was being
chased by police last July pleaded not guilty to murder and vehicular
homicide charges in court Friday morning.
Lorraine McCrary, 37, also
pled not guilty to the remaining charges stemming from the wreck, including
attempting to elude a police officer, speeding, a child safety restraint
violation and two counts of reckless conduct.
The crash killed Chuck Vicha
of Peachtree City as he attempted to turn left onto Ga. Highway 54 just
outside the eastern city limits the evening of July 27, according to police.
Three children in McCrary's car at the time of the crash were also injured.
McCrary was being pursued by
officers from the Luthersville Police Department moments before the accident.
Peachtree City police officers blocked off major intersections in on Hwy.
54 in the city to protect the public.
McCrary, who is in rehabilitation
from her injuries suffered in the crash, entered and left the courtroom
in a wheelchair Friday morning. She is incarcerated at a jail facility
outside Fayette County that specializes in providing medical treatment
for prisoners.
After the crash, Fayette County
Sheriff's detectives found numerous forged financial documents in her
vehicle, leading law enforcement officials to speculate that was why she
fled the Luthersville officers.
McCrary's bond hearing was
postponed until Tuesday, Nov. 26 because a witness who may testify on
her behalf was unable to appear Friday, according to attorneys. The trial
is slated for Monday, Dec. 2.
The crash led Peachtree City
Police Chief James Murray to ask Gov. Roy Barnes to create legislation
to restrict when police may conduct high-speed pursuits of suspects. Barnes
later declined to do so, stating police need to have a certain amount
of leeway to make chase decisions in certain situations.
Murray and other law enforcement
personnel later testified at a Georgia Senate subcommittee hearing on
the issue that was hosted by Sen. Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg).
During that hearing, several
officials testified that police officers and sheriff's deputies receive
little training on high-speed pursuits while at police academy.
Georgia state troopers, however,
receive more extensive training in how to end high-speed pursuits, officials
said.
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