A Louisiana cop is dealing with costs for plowing into an unrelated car and during a high-speed chase on New Year’s Eve — leaving two high school cheerleaders dead. Officer David Cauthron, 42, of the Addis police force, changed into charged with counts of negligent murder Sunday within the deaths of Maggie Dunn, 17, and Caroline Gill, sixteen, in keeping with WBRZ.

Maggie’s brother Liam Dunn, a freshman at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, became reportedly seriously injured within the crash. Eighteenth Judicial District Attorney Tony Clayton berated the cop, who has been with the police branch for less than a 12 months. He formerly labored for a sheriff’s workplace within the state.

“That cop has a variety of questions to answer referring to his velocity and sheer negligence,” Clayton stated Sunday, according to WBRZ. “The public can relaxation assured, we can follow the facts.”

Sources instructed the news outlet that Cauthron’s automobile became going about 86 miles in keeping with hour at some stage in the chase of suspect Tyquel Zanders, who is accused of stealing a member of the family’s car. Sources also instructed the information station the police officer did now not slam at the brakes earlier than hitting the automobile the ladies were in.

Witnesses stated Cauthron ran a red light when his police automobile reached the intersection and ran into the sufferers’ car round noon, consistent with the information station.

The chase commenced when Zanders, 24, entered a domestic in which he was no longer welcomed and shoved his father to the ground before taking the keys to a Nissan, The Advocate stated, mentioning Clayton and reserving files.

Zanders, who was later arrested when his automobile stalled, is anticipated to also face expenses of manslaughter in the deaths of the 2 girls on pinnacle of the expenses tied to the car theft, in step with the West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, the newspaper mentioned.

“He put the chain of occasions into play,” Clayton, the prosecutor, informed The Advocate. “He’s answerable for all the reactions to his movements. He’s facing counts, and if that negative child doesn’t live to tell the tale, he’ll face some other.”

Louisiana cop David Cauthron charged for crash that left two high school cheerleaders dead

— Go News Daily (@GoNewsDaily1) January 3, 2023

The West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office additionally done the arrest of the police officer, consistent with the newspaper. The two slain excessive faculty college students were remembered by means of the Brusly High School cheerleading crew in a Facebook put up Sunday.

“As we mourn the tragic deaths of Maggie Dunn and Caroline Gill please keep their households, pals, and the BHS community on your mind and prayers,” the cheerleading team stated. “Their enthusiasm and vivid smiles will be missed more than may be imagined.”

The high college stated Dunn was a junior and Gill was a sophomore. “We are saddened by using the loss to our school community and will make every effort that will help you and your child as you want,” stated excessive college main Walt Lemoine.