Christopher Austin Bankhead lost his life in a devastating crash Tuesday after a vehicle fleeing a traffic stop slammed into a sign post in front of Food Giant on Alabama Street. Newly released bodycam footage from the Columbus Police Department reveals that Bankhead, a passenger in the vehicle, attempted to get out moments before the driver suddenly sped away. According to police, Bankhead opened the front passenger door and said, āIām getting out,ā but was unable to exit before the car accelerated from the scene.
The incident began when officers stopped the vehicle on Airline Road for speeding and careless driving. Police Chief Joseph Daughtry said the 16-year-old unlicensed driver repeatedly failed to follow commands to keep his hands visible and was seen reaching toward his waistband. Officers reportedly observed what appeared to be an assault-style pistol before the vehicle fled the stop.
Authorities emphasized that no Columbus police vehicle made contact with the fleeing car and that officers were not close enough to conduct a pursuit maneuver. By the time officers arrived on Alabama Street, the vehicle had already crashed into a sign post.
Bankhead suffered fatal injuries in the collision, while the teenage driver and two other passengers were injured. Two occupants have since been released from the hospital, while another remains under medical care.
As the Mississippi Highway Patrol continues its investigation, Chief Daughtry expressed sympathy for Bankheadās loved ones and urged the public to avoid spreading misinformation. The tragic loss of Christopher Austin Bankhead has left family members, friends, and the community mourning a young life cut short far too soon.
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