A high-speed chase on Interstate 40 in Arkansas resulted in the death of a Memphis woman and injuries to three others on Tuesday. According to WREG, Arkansas State Police (ASP) identified the deceased as 29-year-old Laterrika Woods. The chase began after a trooper tried to stop a Dodge Ram pickup truck for a traffic violation near the 173-mile marker in Lonoke County. The driver of the vehicle, identified as 30-year-old Torkilo Hambrick, allegedly chose to instead accelerate, reaching speeds exceeding 120 mph and leading to an 18-mile pursuit.
The chase ended near the 191-mile marker near Hazen in Prairie County, where a trooper performed a Tactical Vehicle Intervention on Hambrick's vehicle, causing it to flip over and land in a ditch. "This tragedy is a direct result of the suspect's reckless, selfish actions. This is another example of what can happen when a suspect flees from law enforcement," said ASP Col. Mike Hagar in a statement obtained by FOX13 Memphis. Woods, who was ejected from the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene, and has been identified as the sister of Memphis rapper Big Boogie, real name John Lotts. Lotts addressed his sister's death, saying, "I Love You Sister. Tears. Tears. Tears. I'm Logging Off Today," on his Instagram page.
Latarica Walker, a 26-year-old woman from Memphis, was also ejected during the crash. She was airlifted to Baptist Medical Center and, according to WREG, remains in critical condition. The driver, Hambrick, along with another passenger, Zuri Jones, 45, were transported to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and are currently in stable condition. Hambrick, who was found to have an outstanding extradition warrant from Shelby County, Tennessee, for a probation violation and is a registered sex offender, faces pending charges related to Woods' death.
During the investigation, troopers discovered two firearms, an undetermined amount of money, a bottle of promethazine, marijuana, and narcotics in the vehicle, reported Action News 5. Woods' body will be sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab to determine the cause and manner of her death. ASP has conveyed that this incident is part of an ongoing investigation.
