MOORE, Okla. (KFOR) – Two of the officers who have been first on scene the day that Max Townsend drove by a crew of Moore Excessive College runners, killing three of them and injuring 4, spoke with KFOR days after Townsend acquired a responsible verdict.
“Seeing Rachel there, realizing it very nicely might have been my very own, that has been my largest wrestle,” Sgt. James White mentioned.
For White and Sgt. David Grant with Moore Police Division, Feb. 3, 2023, will perpetually be seared into their reminiscences.
“You would inform from dispatcher’s voice that it was totally different. You’ll be able to inform while you’ve been doing this for some time that one thing ain’t proper,” Grant mentioned.
Moore Excessive College college students Yuridia Martinez, Rachel Freeman and Kolby Crum have been killed that day, lower than a mile away from the Police Division, when Max Townsend plowed by the college’s cross nation crew together with his pickup. 4 different college students have been damage.
“If you pull up and also you see college students giving CPR to different youngsters on the bottom, like, you do not even know what is going on on,” Grant mentioned.
Grant was the primary officer on scene.
“Simply with all the individuals round, it did not appear to be a automotive crash. It appeared like one thing had went off,” he mentioned.
Whereas the officers behind him dealt with the tragic path Townsend left behind on the faculty, Grant adopted the path of destruction across the block to seek out the individual accountable.
Grant detained Townsend, spoke with the witnesses who ran after the truck after which carried out a subject sobriety check.
“I’ve had a whole lot of guys ask me, ‘How’d you do this?’ And my factor was, ‘I needed to.’ You realize, who else was attending to the opposite aspect, and me attending to that individual shortly cannot solely save lives, but additionally make the case,” Grant mentioned.
White helped reconstruct the scene because the crew of investigators tried to find out why and the way this occurred.
“Even from engaged on the tornadoes that I’ve labored, to me this was the devastation. It is simply not one thing that you simply anticipate to see,” White mentioned.
Each White and Grant testified throughout Townsend’s trial final week. The trial ended on Friday when a jury discovered him responsible of three counts of second-degree homicide, three counts of leaving the scene of a fatality accident and 4 counts of leaving the scene of an harm accident. The jury beneficial he serve life in jail.
“It was an enormous burden that was lifted. It let me know that my crew and I – investigators – that we have been in a position to carry justice for the youngsters,” White mentioned.
In the course of the trial, Townsend’s attorneys claimed Townsend choked on a Crimson Bull he was ingesting, leaving him unconscious on the time of the crash.
Nonetheless, the state pointed to his blood check that confirmed a blood alcohol degree of .068 and THC in his system.
There was additionally testimony from witnesses who mentioned they noticed Townsend alert, together with his palms at 10 and a couple of on the time of the crash.
“I do not work that space, however I actually do not drive by there. It is such a bizarre factor now, simply coping with it,” Grant mentioned.
It was a painful day for a lot of, perpetually tainting the road the place three younger runners went for his or her ultimate run.
A memorial now sits in that very spot.
“After they mentioned responsible, it was like, ‘We did our jobs. We did what we have been alleged to do,'” Grant mentioned.
“I did what I used to be alleged to do, to ensure he by no means walks a day on the road once more, make sure that he stays behind bars the place he belongs,” White mentioned.
Townsend might be formally sentenced on August 19 at 2 p.m.
