Girl trying to save sick pet dies in stolen car crash

Sometimes, the news I find is just sad.

A 15-year-old girl died Tuesday in a dramatic, ill-advised, effort to save her cancer-stricken dog from euthanasia.

Taylor Mae Stinchcomb, 15, died trying to prevent her dog from being euthanized.

Taylor Mae Stinchcomb, 15, died trying to prevent her dog from being euthanized.

According to an article in the Chicago Sun Times, Taylor Mae Stinchcomb, 15, stole her family’s 2003 Dodge minivan and fled her Chicago-area home with her ill dog, Romulus, and a female friend, also 15.

When Taylor became too upset to drive, her unnamed friend took the wheel. Moments later, the friend lost control of the vehicle and crashed into several trees and a telephone pole.

The dog was thrown from the vehicle and died immediately. Taylor died of her injuries at a local hospital. The driver escaped almost without a scratch.

Drugs or alcohol were not a factor in the crash, police said.

Police are not sure where the girls were headed or what they planned to do.

Taylor picked the dog out while visiting an animal shelter on her 13th birthday.

A high school freshman, Taylor is survived by two sisters, a brother and her parents, Bill and LeeAnn Stinchcomb.

95 comments Add your comment

Compassion

June 24th, 2011
9:05 am

Some people are really missing the point here. How she obtained the vehicle really doesn’t matter, but what matters is that she and her dog died. I’m sure that she was quite aware that dying is something that we all have to do, but that doesn’t make the loss easier. Please remember that she was just a teenager and like most teenagers she didn’t think before doing this. My heart goes out to both families.

Amia in ATL

June 24th, 2011
9:13 am

Damn Animal Lovers and JT…..if you don’t find the topic interesting, move on to the next. If you have a pet, you can understand the love people have with their pets. Before I got a dog, I never understood and thought it was crazy and funny. I am here to tell you, I LOVE MY DOG!!! So imagine a little girl and her love for her pet. She lost her life!!!! Be sensitive. I can’t believe the Jacka$$es on the beautiful Friday morning!

Steve

June 24th, 2011
9:18 am

If the dog was dying of cancer, isn’t it the humane thing to do to put it under?? I can see her being upset about putting down a healthy dog, but this story is just odd.

ManOfTeal

June 24th, 2011
9:18 am

Wow, we have idiots arguing over semantics and idiots who bring religious ideologies into a story that has nothing to do with religion. You’re doing it wrong!

/Please never reproduce.

Sweetpunkin

June 24th, 2011
9:19 am

The girl should have known better esp because of her state of mind at the present time. However, I still feel bad for her parents although if I were her parents I would have planned to take care of the dog while she was away at school or at friends.

Samantha

June 24th, 2011
9:30 am

This is so sad. My prayers goes out to her parents, family and friends. May she rest in peace.

Roberto

June 24th, 2011
9:45 am

DAL and JT are the same per..,no, prick.

DamnAnimalLovers

June 24th, 2011
9:51 am

I think she’s in DOGGIE HEAVEN – where all Animal lovers go to spend the remainder of their soulless lives – taking care of the sick, dying and the already-dead.
Get over yourselves, people. Like the good preacher as always said, “God will not take you before your time!” Maybe it was her time. lol

Lefty

June 24th, 2011
10:07 am

D-A-L is just looking for attention and seeing if he/she can get a rise out of people, That’s all, nothing more. It’s probably just a kid out of school for the summer with nothing to do. Ignore the troll and it will go away.

SWMarietta

June 24th, 2011
10:13 am

This would have never happened if she was in 4H.