News 12 at 11 o'clock, March 2, 2008

AUGUSTA, Ga.-- News 12 has exclusive sound straight from the police scanner during Saturday night's high speed chase through Augusta. In it, Deputy Anthony Gregory is advised by Sgt. Steptoe to stop pursuing a suspect fleeing through downtown and then up Gordon Highway.

It was a chase that would end within five minutes with one person dead.

The Richmond County Coroner's Office identifies the victim as 43-year-old Laurie Latimer of Augusta.

In the radio recording of the actual chase, you can hear for yourself what the deputy who was chasing the SUV was told nearly four full minutes before the fatal crash.

Officials say the Deputy Gregory initially pulled the red Chevy Blazer over on the 900 block of Broad Street for making an illegal u-turn. Georgia State Patrol identifies the driver as 19-year-old Jamie Ray Clark. Another passenger was also in the Blazer with Clark.

The Coroner says Clark gave the deputy his South Carolina instructional permit. Authorities say Deputy Gregory returned to his patrol car, then got out to ask the driver a question, then got back in his patrol car and that's when the SUV took off.

The chase went down Broad Street and onto Gordon Highway. One minute into the chase, the Sheriff's Office scanner records Sgt. Steptoe advising Deputy Gregory to "break it off at the state line."

Gregory then says " I got his ID and everything."

Sgt. Steptoe responds, "Then take out the warrants and break it off."

But Deputy Gregory did not break it off.

The chase last another four full minutes down Gordon Highway at speeds to 80 to 85 miles an hour.

The fleeing Chevy Blazer broadsided a Chevrolet Bonneville that was turning left onto Old Savannah Road.

The Richmond County Coroner says the victim's car was hit at around 80-85 miles an hour. The coroner says the passenger's door was pushed over a foot into the cabin of the car.

Latimer, and mother of two, was killed upon EMS arrival to the scene. An unidentified black man was taken by ambulance to MCG.

Clark and his passenger were also taken to MCG.

As of Sunday night Clark was transported to the Richmond County jail and charged with DUI, Homicide by motor vehicle, fleeing, reckless driving, running a red light and driving without a valid license.

No updates were available as of early Monday morning on the conditions of the passenger in the car with Clark and the man in the other car.

Coroner Grover Tuten says Georgia State Patrol is investigating the crash. He also says Georgia State Troopers from Athens came to rein-act the scene overnight. Their findings have not been released.

.Georgia State Patrol says they are only investigating the crash, the chase is being investigated by Richmond County's Internal Affairs Department.