McCrary says she's innocent in car chase murder charge

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McCrary says she's innocent in car chase murder charge

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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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