Mom's 110-Mph Car Chase Kills Her Baby

Texas Woman Leads Police On 25-Mile Chase; 9-Month-Old Thrown From SUV In Crash

(AP)  A woman led police on a 25-mile high speed chase until she crashed into a concrete median, killing her 9-month-old daughter in the collision, authorities said.

Alexxus Riza was thrown Friday night from the SUV, which rolled several times under an Interstate 35 overpass, said Trooper Dub Gillum of the Texas Department of Public Safety. The vehicle struck a traffic light before hitting the concrete barrier, officials said.

Aimee Andrea Riza, 36, of Keene, sustained minor injuries and was charged with manslaughter, evading arrest, resisting arrest and reckless driving, Gillum said.

“She was combative after the crash when they tried to extract her out of the vehicle,” he said. “The officers had to wrestle her to get her under control.”

A motorist had called the Somervell County Sheriff's Department to report a reckless driver. When Riza refused to stop, authorities chased her through two counties at speeds up to 110 mph, Gillum said.

Authorities used spikes, tried to block intersections ahead and backed off the SUV hoping it would slow down. But Riza continued to drive until she crashed, traveling on the rims after the SUV's tires were deflated, Gillum said.

[tc47443]

Cops chase someone till they die. They just can not resist the high speed thrill.

[lily_ayanami]

better that than letting them go and risking them hurting more people getting hurt/killed.

the poor baby.

[nkl66]

Stupied women, but Maybe the cops should have backed off all together. Got her Lic # and got her later. instead they help kill a baby.

[wayfedup]

Cops chase someone till they die. They just can not resist the high speed thrill.


Get real; this B*itch is responsible for killing the child, Not the cops. What could she POSSIBLY be doing, or have in her possession, that was worth taking such a chance with the lives of her child, and herself?

[rustnfam]

The idea of just getting her lic.# and later picking them up does not work.. You have to catch someone in the process of breaking the law.. It is a horrible Tragedy but the cops did what they had to do!!! The woman was acting very irresponsible!! Now she will face prison!!!

[commandokell]

Either we are free and responsible for our actions and the results, or someone else is responsible for our actions and we are no longer free.

The woman was responsible for the death of her child. Should everyone run away from the police to avoid any penalty? The result would be anarchy.

[klosinski1]

This woman was already driving recklessly.People called the cops to intervene before she killed someone!! The police cannot seem to win. If the criminal gets away and some gets hurt or killed later,it's the cops fault. If they chase them to try to keep someone from getting hurt or killed, they are still to blame. Maybe when people are held responsible for running from the cops and any concequences of those actions, maybe they wouldn't run as often. As for this woman, driving that way with a child in the car in inexcusable! Everything that happened is 100% only her fault.

[extremophil]

I guess all that's left now is for her to get a lawyer and sue the police.

[nothappyatall]

"This woman was already driving recklessly.People called the cops to intervene before she killed someone!! The police cannot seem to win."

Well at least it was *HER* kid which will affect her a personally whereas killing a stranger she never met likely won't, now when she comes down off her drug high or whatever, she will have plenty of time to think about her actions whilst in jail.

Amazing how it always seems to be the DRUNK driver who plows into another car killing everyone else and THEY escape the conflagration with a few scratches and minor injuries.
How about the case of the drunk who driving the wrong way down the road plowed head-on into a car with several people, and the daughter in the other car was decapitated, the driver was killed, and the drunk driver basically had minor injuries.

Put a bullet in her head, and end this for everyone. Give the cops, a raise, and help them deal with the tragedy.

[hissteps4u]

Lock her away for ever with the knowledge she killed her Baby at least one will get the message.
Pitiful excuse for Life she did not deserve her Baby and now its in Gods hands thankfully.

The Police did the right thing and she still drove recklessly and ended up crashing and killing her baby. Toss the book out the window and drag her to the darkest Dungen in the state she is a worthless excuse for a human. most likely on drugs of course.

[dog-x8]

Poor little baby had to be born to a scumbag mama and is now dead. Some how I think the baby maybe better off now. At least she doesn't have to live with #*@*#/#%@ anymore!!! If the so called mama did this, just think what the child went through at home!! I try to be forgiving, but, I hope she rots in H-E-L-L!!

[mainemade]

Rest in Peace little one...

This is why high speed chases should not happen. Speeds over 110 mph! That is rediculous!

[toldyouso21]

Sounds like a meth case. did drugs play a part in any of this?

[grannygoodst]

I personally think the high speed chases should be a lot more controled than what they are, but I also feel the police did everything humanely possible in this incident to prevent this tragedy. Unfortunately after the dust settles, they are the ones that have to clean up the mess. View that prescious little one all torn and crumpled. Can we ever thank them enough for the job they do? They have to deal with all types of situations on a daily basis that most of us will never have to experience. Bless them for being there and trying to keep us all safe.
The mother may or may not have been on drugs. It could be a mental disorder or something else. I will wait until the trial to judge her so harshly as most seem to be doing. I am glad she did not kill a stranger, but an innocent by-stander still died. That is the greatest tragedy of all.

[aznyron-2009]

I am not a fan of high speed chasers but it seems the police did every thing to get this vehicle to stop the sad part is a innocent child lost her life when are the people who try to run from the police going wake up like they say you can run but cant hide there is no way you can out run the police it real simple slow down find a safe place to stop your vehicle and surrender it much easier and less trouble for every one concerned

[copswife2]

Get the facts straight. The baby was laying in the front seat as the news stated, no carrier of ANY KIND, but did anyone focus on this? NO; officers were not aware that there was an infant involved bc she was not where she belonged, in a car seat. Other drivers that were forced to share the road with her felt threatened enough to call the police to request their assistance. With the speed and carelessness she was displaying on the road BEFORE police involvement; she would have eventually caused harm to the baby LAYING in the seat or, maybe even your loved ones that were being forced to share the road with her. The driver had an option; STOP the *** CAR! Walk a day in the shoes of a peace officer, do his job, accept his pay, see what he sees, bear the burden of hate from the people who do not understand what the badge stands for, and try to forget what he has seen, in just one night%u2019s work. PRAY FOR OFFICERS EVERYWHERE, THEY DO MUCH MORE THAN WRITE TICKETS. The officers involved in these events did what they had to do to protect and serve us all, even YOU who thinks the police should be sued for this. They all risk life and limb on a daily basis just so you and your ignorance make it home safely to be able to get on here to talk about how the police helped kill a baby. Do us all a favor; educate yourself before you post a public statement for all to read showing the world what a dumb@ss you are.
Sincerely ~Proud to be a Peace Officer's Wife

[lily_ayanami]

agreed! that woman was responsible for the safety of her baby and the safety of others with regards to her driving. she chose to endanger others. the choice is to stop her ASAP. a car can be a very dangerous, large, several ton weapon. do you really want to share the road with that person for the extra however long it takes for the police to wait for the driver to stop to apprehend her?

[mrvolleyba11]

Idiots!
idiots blaming Bush for this
idiots blaming the cops for this
idiots saying they are against hi-speed chases
so if anybody breaking the laws, robbing a bank or store, murdering someone if they speed lets just let them go because hi-speed chases are wrong! a perfect example why stupid people shouldn't bred!!! ...a hi-speed chase can only happen when the individual being persued RUNS, I repeat a hi-speed chase can ONLY happen if the person runs! ...it is NEVER the fault of the cops, do we really want to send the message that if you run at a hi-speed that the authorities will always let you go? if you say yes then you are an IDIOT!!! I am sorry for any innocent bystanders that may be injured or killed because of these pursuits but it is still never the cops fault and is still 100 percent the person runnings fault (ALWAYS)!!! lets get back some common sense America!!!!!

[lucyfeo]

I think high speed chases done to catch someone who has shop lifted, or some other petty crime are completely inappropriate because of the danger involved to others on the road. Whatever happened to the theory that you can out run a cop, but not his radio? That doesn't seem to be the case here, but it would be interesting to know what this woman was up to? It seems as though she was on the run before the police ever got involved. That baby may be better off in the long run than she would have been with this mother, or worse, what the mother was running from.

[susanhelit]

It's her fault, and her fault alone. She put her baby in the car, not in a carseat. She drove dangerously, putting others at risk, as well as her own baby. When the police tried to pull her over, she chose to run. She chose to kill her baby - she had every chance not to.

The police must follow - people run for a reason. Maybe because they've got something illegal in the car, maybe because they're fugitives - but tell all the criminals that all they have to do is run when you've got drugs in your car, or a gun, or whatever, and the police will let you get away, to dispose of the evidence, and you'll see a huge explosion in the number of drivers driving like idiots, because we'll have given in to their blackmail.

[sero5]

A nine month old baby doesn't deserve this tragedy.

[closethippy]

There was no reason whatsoever for the hs chase. Once them cops got her license plate number they should have let her go. Them cops put everyone in danger and ended up leading to the consequences that killed the baby.
Why, I ask. Why? I'm doumbfounded.
Them cops need to show restraint and maturity. Pride and not arrogance. Dignity and not savagery. Wisdom and not foolery.
Their dark and shadowy instincts took over what otherwise could be a reasonable mind. But this being TX I don't know how reasonable their minds are.
Needless to say, a baby died. A baby died becuase them cops run around like playing a video game.
They won the game but we, America, lost a baby. We, America, need to raise our hands and put them up to them cops faces and say "Enough is more than enough and that's enough!"
And then put the palm of our hands on their foreheads and push them back as if we were blessing them.
Blessed be they who in their perspicacity show their farsightedness. Blessed!

[kaliveotin]

The police did little wrong, but this was most probably a suicide by police chase. Obviously the woman was troubled but the police would not have been involved in this death except for the complaint of another citizen. If the woman was driving recklessly, does a one-hundred mile an hour car chase solve anything??? This time it led to an innocent infants death. Good work.

[knyghtwolf]

closethippy, I wanna be on YOUR meds!!!!!!!

[silver9991]

This is a tragedy. Reading a few of the comments here, no, there's nothing the police could have done, especially not knowing there was a baby on board, but plenty the mother could have done (like at the very least pulling over immediately when she was signalled for reckless driving).

[tuckerndfw]

Welcome to Texas, y'all.

"Drive Friendly" is posted on road signs at regular intervals. As, is "Don't mess with Texas."

Obviously, this lunatic should have paid attention to the road signs.

After observing Texas drivers for years, it appears to me about half of our drivers should not have been given a license or allowed to operate motor vehicles in the first place.

Especially this lunatic.

[Jd90801]

Dear mrvolleyba11,
I don't see anything wrong with people speaking out on issues, and having suggestions on how to improve polices that are harmful to others and this world.You call these people idiots, I call you a puppet, who's actions are controlled by others with a pull of a string. I suppose that you think global warming is OK and that the twin towers were brought down by middle east extremist(check out loosechange911.com) .It's obvious what you do for a living. What the real tragedy is here is not only the death of this innocent child but the mental health of the people today and how extreme their actions are in dealing with issues. The value of life is a low priority when it comes to some peoples pride, As yours must have been affected for you to submit such a worthless comment. You Idiot!

[gramto7]

Monzthecat

I happen to agree with MrVolleyball. The people that run for police are the ones in the wrong. And, no,I am not a police officer nor am I married to one. I am just a citizen who is tired of people who wish to let the criminals go free while denigrating the police officers who have to put up with people shooting at them and getting sued for shooting back.

[alimech]

She was already driving irresponsibily when the police became involved. Each and every one of you would have screamed, "Where are the polioce when you need them?" if she had hit your family first.

Vehiclure manslaughter is too good for this woman...

[swwils]

I bet she is feeling really perky after this stupid act.Apparently she had no feelings for her child,or anyone else that she could have crashed into and killed.I just do not understand why some people take life for granted and take stupid chances with others lives.No mercy she should get the maximum allowed by law.But some bleeding heart attorney will probably get her off with a"she already feels bad enough,don't you think guys" and of course therapy.

[angrywasp]

I'm normally not one to post replies on public news forums, however, "Closethippy" has changed that for this afternoon. Happy Easter.

"There was no reason whatsoever for the hs chase. Once them cops got her license plate number they should have let her go"

You ignorant moron. What if the plate, or, the SUV itself was stolen? What if there was a kidnapping/hostage situation involved? Your simplistic, left-wing, anarchist attitude & ideology would have sent the cops to the WRONG house, and arrested the WRONG people, a victim would STILL be dead.

Then you'd be up here screaming, "...where, oh where are the cops when you NEED them? Dunkin' Donuts?.."

It's fairly obvious you neglected to read the article; Instead, skimmed the headline and posted comments based on your personal political dogma.

What part of "A motorist had called the Somervell County Sheriff's Department to report a reckless driver. When Riza refused to stop..." didn't you GET?

Oh, that's right.. in the World Of Hippy, "the Man" is just out to hassle people.

Tell you what; Here's ten bucks. Birk it over to Starbucks, and buy yourself a big cup of decaf Shut the Hell Up Latte.

[long_rider]

Well the gestapo should be proud of themselves. They killed a kid on Easter.

[darkfyreaol]

'Needless to say, a baby died. A baby died becuase them cops run around like playing a video game.'

Re-read the article, ClosetHippy. The woman was speeding long before police actually took notice. They did everything under their power to try and keep the woman from speeding off at over 100mph, and still the woman continued in defiance of all reason. There was a child in the vehicle, as well.

When a motorist refuses to slow down or stop for police, whether or not they back off from the chase, risking their life and that of the infant on board, as well as those traveling on the same road, generally there is only one possible outcome, and this is it.

What strikes me as irony, is she survived the 100mph crash with what was described as only 'minor injuries'. Either that SUV is safer than most or there was some sort of miracle. The force from most 40-50mph crashes is enough to break the bones of the occupants.

[agnim]

That baby was just 'collateral damage'.

How do you chase a non-murder or non-violent suspect through a city at 110 miles an hour? For what good reason?

The police should also be charged with the murder along with the driver of that car.

[ridesup]

My only question is why is the mother not being charged with felony murder???
I know that sometimes overzealous District Attorneys in all their creativity can make almost any charge stand up.

[bc123]

The police in this country are completely OUT OF CONTROL. If they are not killing someone innocent (you're INNOCENT before proven guilty- remember?) they are killing themselves by driving those poorly-engineered Ford Crown Victorias or some other American-made car at too high rate of speed. American cars cannot handle high-speeds-- period. If American police need to be involved in high-speed chases, they need to driving European of Japanese cars if they want to be safe. it's as simple as that.

[luigi999-2009]

Some of the posters on this topic are sick indivduals and scary in themselves in their replies to this story.

The WOMAN was the villian, not the police. Why some of you can't connect such simple dots is pathetic.

[bc123]

Police LIVE for this sort of thing. You are living in a DREAM WORLD if you think they don't.

You are completely out of touch with reality if you think the police are not to blame for this.

[pegib1]

The name calling and disagreements on this article are not going to bring back this innocent baby.
The police were doing their job and they DO NOT get a big thrill out of this type of chase.
They did their duty just as the brave cops on 9/11.
I have lost one member of my family to working as a Detective and have others (brotherass) risking their lives daily and have been "Hero`s" many times, but they choose to do this just as one served in Vietnom War as a medic and saved lives.
For many years I worked the evening shift as a nurse and drove the interstate highway. I had to report im paired drivers via a CB radio and the police officers always radioed me back to thank me for helping getting these people off the road. And yes they included women who were driving under the influence.
God bless these officers and don`t think that they will forget this baby any time soon, it will haun them from now until their deaths, I know because as a nurse I relive the senseless loss of a childs life that happened back in 1987.

Wyoming PEGIB

[bc123]

I'll pass that message along to Amadou Diallo's mom-- whose son was riddled with bullets by cowboy cops for showing them his wallet.

Midwestern/southern people live in such a dream world-- where all cops are perceived as heroes.

Ignorance truly is bliss.

[thgdriver]

angrywasp

Only another cop or another cop wannabe would post such a made up as you go post. The cops had no reason to believe there was a kidnapping/hostage situation or the the SUV was stolen.

The cops used very bad judgment for chasing this citizen at 110 MPH. For who? For what? To what end? A little innocent baby is dead because of their heinous, reckless, disregard for human life. For the need of giving out a speeding/reckless driving ticket they killed a child. Nice going you stinking bastar#s!

[thgdriver]

luigi999

Is a chase like this really necessary after they have a plate number? They (the cops) should have broke off this chase, they could have caused any number of deaths and injuries to innocent other families on the road as well as killing the child that they did. I hope the grandparents of that Child sue the cops responsible as well as the city of Alvarado, Texas. That child's murder must be made an example to police out of control across this nation.

If the police back off, they may not catch the culprit. How did they know the car wasn't stolen? Most people who do this kind of thing are running for a reason, and if they get away, they are off scot free.

The police did the right thing.

[thgdriver]

I don't expect nut cases behind a wheel of a car to act rationally. I do expect trained law enforcement officers to use good judgment. The child being killed proves they did not. The mother is certainly to blame but the cops are also guilty.

Anyone who blames the cops for this is a scumbag. The police are not all good, however the mother of the child had the option of stopping at any point, and she did not. The only person who is responsible for the baby is her mother.

You haters are ignorant, petty, and illogical.

I wish you were all cops, because I could committ any crimes I want, drive fast, and be off scot free.

I hate resorting to personal attacks, but you are acting stupid. Blame the cops? ROFL!

[thgdriver]

WontonTiger

So,Even if the car was stolen, the recovery of an insured stolen car is more important to you then a child's life, Right??

[thgdriver]

Being's a few morons are using hypothetical scenarios so can I.

Your teenage daughter is on her way to school and the police are chasing a stolen car at 110 MPH and a cop crashes into your daughter and kills her, do you still feel the same way about the chase???

It has nothing to do with recovering the car, and everything to do with catching the culprit. The car will be found, however after the crook ditches it, if done right there will be no connection to him.

Why don't you blame everyone for your issues, sounds like a good way to get through life, and very similar to the current state of society. If you start letting crooks escape, it will empower them to do more, with less consequences.

Don't ask me closed questions, especially if they don't make sense.

Your the only one using left field hypotheticals. Were they speeding through school zones? We don't know. IF they were, I would agree to abandon pursuit. However since it is said they crashed on an interstate, I would doubt that it was in a school zone.

There are situations that require them to abandon pursuit, however it should only be when necessary.

Are you trying to say that everyone who crashes running from police, should blame the accident on the police? That makes no sense.

I guess the police should stop pursuing their suspects, it will make the world a safer place, right?