Woman pleads innocent to murder

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Woman pleads innocent to murder

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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 Saturday, 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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