MEMPHIS, TN – In a heart-wrenching incident late Tuesday night, a high-speed police chase culminated in a catastrophic five-car pileup in Hickory Hill, resulting in three fatalities and multiple injuries.
The deceased have been identified as Patrice Hughes, 47, her daughter Anne Standback, 26, and Shaquille Assembly, 26. Assembly’s two-year-old daughter was critically injured and remains hospitalized. The 16-year-old driver, Darian Watkins, who led police on the chase, now faces charges including aggravated robbery and evading arrest.
The chase initiated at 9:47 p.m. when officers attempted to stop Watkins’ vehicle on Cottonwood Road. The pursuit spanned five miles, ending disastrously at Kirby Parkway and Raines Road. Surveillance footage reveals Watkins running a red light, leading to the fatal collision.
Officers initially lost contact with Watkins’ vehicle but later spotted it in Hickory Hill. Watkins ignored police signals to stop, resulting in the deadly crash. He was hospitalized with non-critical injuries and was the sole occupant of his vehicle.
The collision also injured a two-year-old and five adults, all of whom are expected to recover. The incident has ignited a community debate, with some attributing the blame to parental negligence, while others criticize the police’s high-speed chase policies.
Calls for reform and increased accountability are growing louder as the Memphis Police Department investigates the crash. The community demands answers and measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.