J.M.

How they died

Pursuit

A Missoula officer was on patrol around 11:37 p.m. While stopped at a traffic light, the officer noticed a white Honda Civic driving at a high speed -- the speed was estimated to be around 60 or 70 mph in a 25 mph zone. Police attempted to make a traffic stop, but the car made a quick turn, and the officer lost sight of the car. Police located the car, and when police approached, the driver, Kemari D. Parks, 20, sped away through the parking lot. Officers saw a second person sitting in the front passenger seat. Officers continued to pursue the other --which reportedly was traveling over 60 miles per hour. Parks nearly struck several other cars as police continued to pursue, driving into oncoming traffic and running through red lights. The car struck a parked car, causing Parks' car to strike several more cars. The passenger side of Parks' car hit the parked other, causing significant damage. Parks got out of the car and fled on foot. Officers caught up to him as he was trying to jump a fence into the backyard of a house. He refused officer orders to get on the ground, who deployed his Taser, which prompted Parks to sit on the ground with his hands in the air. The passenger in Parks' car to have suffered ultimately fatal injuries in the crash. Parks was charged with one count of vehicular homicide while under the influence, one count of criminal endangerment and one count of fleeing from or eluding a peace officer resulting in serious bodily injury or death, all felonies.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that J.M., and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources