[ramblerman]

> Nationally, it's estimated nearly 300 people die each year as a result of high speed police chases.

That's a huge number. I'd love to know how many of those 300 are innocent bystanders. The fact that people involved in the chase (i.e. those running away) lose their lives seems like it's part of the risk.

[ck2]

They don't count those - they don't even count the baby that was in the SUV one guy stole and it flew out of the window during the police chase.

[Sprint]

Are you seriously blaming the police for the death of that? Surely it is the guy's fault for stealing a car with a child in it and recklessly driving it.

[jakeybob]

I think he's just suggesting that the baby definitely should count as an innocent bystander.

[corin_]

"Blame" might be too far but there's definitely an argument to suggest they caused the baby's death, in that if they hadn't chased then maybe he wouldn't have driven so recklessly. Hence this whole discussion.

[corresation]

"They don't count those"

Citation required. The language seems intentionally very vague and inclusive, which seems to be supported by-

http://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/26/us/alarmed-by-deaths-in-ca...

"Experts say there are few national figures on police pursuits. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration figures, based on reports from police departments, show that 305 people died in pursuits in 1991.

Of these deaths, 250 were reported to be occupants of fleeing vehicles, 46 were third-party victims in uninvolved vehicles, four were occupants of police vehicles and five were pedestrians."

Unless pursuit deaths rose a magnitude plus, I think you are misrepresenting some facts.