Darrell Counts
Name: Darrell Counts
Age: 54
Gender: Male
Race: Race unspecified
Date: 08/21/2000
Location:
Joplin, Missouri,
County: Jasper
Agency: Joplin Police Department
Cause of Death: Vehicle
Intended Use of Force: Vehic/Purs
Media summary: Darrell Counts was killed when his Oldsmobile was struck by another Oldsmobile being chased by police through downtown Joplin. An officer tried to stop Diane Vaughn, 18, and Michael Watson, 23, for driving the wrong way down a one-way street. The pair fled because they were wanted on outstanding misdemeanor warrants. Vaughn was reportedly fleeing at speeds of less than 25 mph when Watson said: "If you're not going to stop ... punch it." Vaughn then allegedly drove through a red light and two stop signs, accelerating to 55 mph before her car hit Counts' car. Counts died at the scene. A judge ruled that Watson's words were enough to charge him with manslaughter in Counts' death.
Unique ID: 400
News article: Link
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