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.
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.
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95 comments Add your comment
Mimi
June 24th, 2011
10:23 am
to ‘Editor’: you’re suggestion that space is more important than accuracy is exactly what’s wrong with you and the main stream media of today… there’s is NO need to sensationalize the fact that this distraught child took the car… simply stating that she ‘took the car’ takes no more of your stupid precious space than your statement that she ’stole the car’… as a matter of fact it takes one less letter… and when your desire to save space overcomes your obligation to accurately and impartially report the news then – you fail … open mouth, change foot
Irony
June 24th, 2011
10:24 am
The dog died while she was trying to save it from certain death?
.....
June 24th, 2011
10:34 am
Mimi, it is what it is. You take something without permission it is considered stealing.
Mimi
June 24th, 2011
10:50 am
The article makes reference to the police as if the writer has done sufficient research. It is the job of police to decide if criminal charges are appropriate to be filed against anyone, not the job of a sensationalizing media. ‘Stolen’ implies a crime which was not reported as pending charges in the article, and therefore is considered a passing of judgment from a media who lacks impartiality and prefers to add drama where it isn’t needed. Fail.
Mike
June 24th, 2011
10:51 am
This is tragic but should be a lesson for all children/teenagers. Do not steal from your parents! We have become so pet/animal crazy that it is tragic all together. We care more for pets than we do our fellow human. The dog had cancer, when was the last time you heard that, if you grew up in the late 70’s early 80’s…we would have said, “it just died”! We move on, cry a few tears and get another pet, simple. Corporations want you to humanize these pets so that they can take more of your money.
Mike
June 24th, 2011
10:51 am
Good point
Lynn
June 24th, 2011
11:05 am
@DamnAnimalLovers — Sounds like somebody had a big bowl of B*&$H for breakfast. Why don’t you go troll somewhere else?
suavez
June 24th, 2011
11:07 am
DAL
Thanks for the laugh. Let the Christians play make-believe without ruining it for them. I’m sure the girl and her dog are running and playing in a field of poppies in heaven. Very sad story, but the irony is rather funny.
Chang
June 24th, 2011
11:09 am
Blessed her soul. May God be with her.
brad
June 24th, 2011
11:26 am
Suavez and DAL, it’s not about religious belief, it’s about the ability to have even the slightest amount of compassion.