Post by Lynnie on Jul 15, 2003 6:14:37 GMT -5
By David A. Fahrenthold and Simone Weichselbaum
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, July 15, 2003; Page B01
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56277-2003Jul14.html
A 60-year-old grandmother and recent employee of the month died yesterday morning in Southeast Washington after her car was broadsided by young men in a stolen Ford -- the second death in a month in the area linked to joy-riding car thieves.
Shirley Pugh was heading north on Texas Avenue SE, apparently on her way to work at 7:10 a.m., when the Ford ran a red light and slammed into her Hyundai sedan, D.C. police said. Firefighters cut off the roof of her car to free her, but she was pronounced dead at Prince George's Hospital Center about an hour later.
Police said witnesses told them they saw at least three teenagers running from the Ford, which was reported stolen from a Suitland home. They had made no arrests and had no suspects yesterday.
For months, residents in the area have complained about young car thieves who roar through streets and alleys at night. After the crash yesterday, Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D) had a contentious meeting with community members and police at the Benning Terrace public housing complex, where police think some of the thieves live.
"There was a lot of tension initially, and I understood this," Williams said after the meeting. "If there was something I could have done personally to save a lost life, I would have."
Williams said he intended to put more city resources, including police, into the area.
Pugh, who lived in the 4400 block of E Street SE, had worked for 20 years as a clerk at the D.C. government's welfare agency, the Income Maintenance Administration. Co-workers said she was known for her friendly manner with clients.
Yesterday, her co-workers said, Pugh had planned to take the day off to be with her family. But, they said, it appeared she was coming in to work anyway, perhaps to retrieve payroll records that had been locked in her office.
"She didn't have to come in -- that's just the kind of person she was," said Sharon Cooper-DeLoatch, a deputy administrator. "Since it was her responsibility . . . she would come in and make certain it was done."
Pugh was alone in her car when it was struck at Texas Avenue and C Street SE. One resident said the impact sounded like an explosion.
An SUV traveling behind Pugh, carrying a woman and her four children, also was damaged in the accident, but no one in that vehicle was seriously injured.
Students at Mary H. Plummer Elementary School, who said they saw the accident, described two fleeing youths, one of them bleeding from the side of his head.
Summer school Principal Gwendolyn Bowman said the students who saw the wreck "seem to be shattered," but the rest of the school was trying to go on as usual. "Right now we are trying to keep the accident from [the other students]," she said. "Hopefully no one will tell them about the lady dying."
Police have said they think joy riders commit two-thirds of the District's car thefts and that thieves as young as 10 have helped push auto thefts up about 20 percent above the number last year. On June 15, a 16-year-old girl in a stolen minivan struck John Johnson, 15, on 46th Street SE, in the Benning Terrace complex. He suffered severe head injuries and died three hours later. She was arrested and charged with car theft and second-degree murder.
Residents who live near the site of yesterday's collision said they had been alarmed for months at the noise and the damage caused by the young thieves.
Larry Young, who lives a block away on Texas Avenue, said a speeding car plowed through his front fence a few weeks ago and he often hears cars chasing one another through alleys, scraping their undersides on the uneven pavement.
Young and others said they want speed bumps or more police patrols to stop the joy riders.
"This lady is dead," Young said yesterday afternoon, standing by his crumpled fence. "Who has to answer for it? Nobody."
Staff writer Petula Dvorak and staff researcher Bobbye Pratt contributed to this report
How much do you think their punishment should be? Now, if these kids are as young as 10, I don't know exactly what they'll do to them when caught. But they should definitely get as much as they can. And that's sad to say b/c these kids know what they are doing. They have been doing it for as long as I can remember.
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, July 15, 2003; Page B01
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56277-2003Jul14.html
A 60-year-old grandmother and recent employee of the month died yesterday morning in Southeast Washington after her car was broadsided by young men in a stolen Ford -- the second death in a month in the area linked to joy-riding car thieves.
Shirley Pugh was heading north on Texas Avenue SE, apparently on her way to work at 7:10 a.m., when the Ford ran a red light and slammed into her Hyundai sedan, D.C. police said. Firefighters cut off the roof of her car to free her, but she was pronounced dead at Prince George's Hospital Center about an hour later.
Police said witnesses told them they saw at least three teenagers running from the Ford, which was reported stolen from a Suitland home. They had made no arrests and had no suspects yesterday.
For months, residents in the area have complained about young car thieves who roar through streets and alleys at night. After the crash yesterday, Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D) had a contentious meeting with community members and police at the Benning Terrace public housing complex, where police think some of the thieves live.
"There was a lot of tension initially, and I understood this," Williams said after the meeting. "If there was something I could have done personally to save a lost life, I would have."
Williams said he intended to put more city resources, including police, into the area.
Pugh, who lived in the 4400 block of E Street SE, had worked for 20 years as a clerk at the D.C. government's welfare agency, the Income Maintenance Administration. Co-workers said she was known for her friendly manner with clients.
Yesterday, her co-workers said, Pugh had planned to take the day off to be with her family. But, they said, it appeared she was coming in to work anyway, perhaps to retrieve payroll records that had been locked in her office.
"She didn't have to come in -- that's just the kind of person she was," said Sharon Cooper-DeLoatch, a deputy administrator. "Since it was her responsibility . . . she would come in and make certain it was done."
Pugh was alone in her car when it was struck at Texas Avenue and C Street SE. One resident said the impact sounded like an explosion.
An SUV traveling behind Pugh, carrying a woman and her four children, also was damaged in the accident, but no one in that vehicle was seriously injured.
Students at Mary H. Plummer Elementary School, who said they saw the accident, described two fleeing youths, one of them bleeding from the side of his head.
Summer school Principal Gwendolyn Bowman said the students who saw the wreck "seem to be shattered," but the rest of the school was trying to go on as usual. "Right now we are trying to keep the accident from [the other students]," she said. "Hopefully no one will tell them about the lady dying."
Police have said they think joy riders commit two-thirds of the District's car thefts and that thieves as young as 10 have helped push auto thefts up about 20 percent above the number last year. On June 15, a 16-year-old girl in a stolen minivan struck John Johnson, 15, on 46th Street SE, in the Benning Terrace complex. He suffered severe head injuries and died three hours later. She was arrested and charged with car theft and second-degree murder.
Residents who live near the site of yesterday's collision said they had been alarmed for months at the noise and the damage caused by the young thieves.
Larry Young, who lives a block away on Texas Avenue, said a speeding car plowed through his front fence a few weeks ago and he often hears cars chasing one another through alleys, scraping their undersides on the uneven pavement.
Young and others said they want speed bumps or more police patrols to stop the joy riders.
"This lady is dead," Young said yesterday afternoon, standing by his crumpled fence. "Who has to answer for it? Nobody."
Staff writer Petula Dvorak and staff researcher Bobbye Pratt contributed to this report
How much do you think their punishment should be? Now, if these kids are as young as 10, I don't know exactly what they'll do to them when caught. But they should definitely get as much as they can. And that's sad to say b/c these kids know what they are doing. They have been doing it for as long as I can remember.
I still have old high school friends that I keep up with in the area, but I have no urge to visit. 
living in Charlotte - not perfect... but one of the CLEANEST cities you'll ever find... and since it is in the buckle of the Bible belt... not exactly SIN CITY either. 
That's more than our mortgage payments. ;D