4 Teens Dead in Tyler Crash After PIT Maneuver

Four teenagers died in a fiery crash in Tyler, Texas, on Sept. 27, following a police pursuit that began with a shooting incident. A Texas Highway Patrol trooper's use of a precision immobilization technique, or PIT maneuver, concluded the chase.

Tyler police responded to reports of gunshots around 4 a.m. in the 1500 block of Lake Placid Road. A caller provided a description of the vehicle involved. Shortly after, a local hospital reported treating two individuals for gunshot wounds.

Officers investigating the shooting spotted the suspect vehicle and attempted to make contact. The vehicle fled, leading officers on a pursuit through Tyler and onto Highway 31 East. The Texas Highway Patrol joined the chase as it left the city limits.

Around 5:30 a.m. near County Road 211, a trooper executed a PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle, which then crashed. Three occupants died at the scene. A fourth occupant was taken to a hospital, where they later died.

The deceased teens are Jaffet Cuarenta, 17; Adrielle Vazquez, 17; and Emigdio Gutierrez, 17, all of Tyler. The fourth victim, a 15-year-old from Smith County, remains unidentified due to age. The two victims of the initial shooting, a 17-year-old male from Tyler and an 18-year-old female from Smith County, sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Their names are being withheld.