A routine traffic stop turned into a jaw-dropping disaster in Arkansas when a driver allegedly chose the gas pedal over common sense — while four young children, including a 4-month-old baby, were riding inside the vehicle.
Newly released police footage shows the terrifying aftermath of a Memorial Day weekend pursuit near Camden, where authorities say 28-year-old Tyrice Fletcher took off after officers attempted to stop him for a traffic violation. Investigators say the chase quickly escalated, with speeds reportedly reaching roughly 100 mph on rural roads.
What happened next looked like something out of an action movie — except there were children in the back seat.
According to authorities, the SUV veered off the roadway after Fletcher lost control, slammed into a utility pole and rolled over. Officers responding to the wreck were met with a horrifying sight: an infant lying in the grass near the mangled vehicle and close to downed power lines.
Body-camera and dash-camera footage shows a trooper rushing toward the scene, scooping up the baby and carrying the child to safety before placing the infant inside a patrol vehicle.
Police later discovered three more children inside the overturned SUV. All four youngsters were younger than 6 years old. Troopers carefully helped them out of the wreckage, wrapped some of the children in blankets and provided water while emergency crews assessed their injuries.
Remarkably, authorities said the children escaped with only minor injuries despite the violent crash. They were taken to a local hospital for treatment, and their mother was notified.
Investigators said they were unaware children were inside the SUV when the pursuit began. The wreck allegedly uncovered more problems for Fletcher. Authorities said they recovered a defaced firearm, marijuana and drug paraphernalia from the vehicle.
Arkansas State Police Col. Mike Hagar blasted the suspect’s alleged actions, saying, “As a father, I cannot fathom a parent making the decision to drive recklessly, much less flee from law enforcement, with their children in the vehicle. I thank God the children were not injured.”
Troop F Capt. Rick Neill was equally blunt. “The suspect’s decisions placed four innocent victims in harm’s way,” Neill said. “At any point during the pursuit, the suspect could have stopped. He refused to stop. The danger created that day was the direct result of the suspect’s actions.”
Fletcher, who is from El Dorado, now faces a mountain of charges, including felony fleeing, reckless driving, multiple counts of child endangerment, firearm offenses, drug-related charges, criminal mischief, driving without a license, failing to properly restrain child passengers and several additional traffic violations.
