Everyday, I receive phone calls and emails from families of innocent victims of pursuit. Everyday, I read stories about innocent bystanders being killed and maimed as a result of police chases. They are innocent people, who were wearing seatbelts, but were still killed as a result of police chases.

I’m a staunch supporter of seatbelts and child restraints.  I can understand why people are angry that five small children were not properly restrained as their family drove to a PeeWee football game.

Yet, another public safety issue is being ignored: On average, vehicular police pursuits kill at least three innocent bystanders every week in the United States. Please visit www.pursuitsafety.org to see the faces of innocent bystanders (victims of pursuit) who were killed while wearing seatbelts or restrained by child car seats.

I know from research and personal experience — my daughter Kristie, an innocent victim of pursuit, was wearing a shoulder and waist seatbelt when she was killed — that seatbelts and car seats do not always save lives. The police dispatch tape indicates an officer was chasing that car at speeds topping 90 mph when the car's driver ran a stop sign and hit the truck broadside….  I looked at the pictures of what was once the truck, those small children didn't have a chance, seatbelts or not.

At PursuitSAFETY, we are working for a safer way.

Candy Priano
Former Fresno Resident and
Executive Director
Voices Insisting on PursuitSAFETY