The defendant was fleeing from the police, as he believed he was being carjacked by the plain-clothes police officers. Police have said the man was fleeing because he did not have a license. This isn't the first time this man has been involved in a car chase with police. Last year, the man took off in a vehicle after running a stop sign. The pursuit ended on foot with no one hurt. The Brockton Enterprise reports that he gave the same excuse in that chase.
The accident that cost this woman her life was caused by the irresponsibility of another driver. In the course of this man's previous police chase, crack cocaine was found in his vehicle. In this case, he could potentially have been under the influence of drugs, which may have contributed to the collision.
There could be the option to pursue a wrongful death claim against the man, and seek financial compensation for her funeral costs and lost wages. The loss of a household-earner can cause great financial hardship for families.
Source: The Brockton Enterprise, "Fatal chase was not the first time Brockton man had been pursued by police," Maria Papadoplous, Oct. 16, 2012
