Two charged with friend’s death after street racing accident, police say

Published 9:09 am Monday, February 12, 2024

Two Mississippi men have been arrested, Alabama police say, for their role in a street racing death of a friend on an Alabama interstate.

The incident happened Friday morning when Hoover, Alabama, police were notified of a traffic crash that occurred on I-459 South near mile marker 13, which is near the exit for U.S. Highway 31.

Witnesses described three vehicles driving at a high rate of speed on I-459.

One of the vehicles, a Nissan Sentra, left the roadway and struck a tree. It is believed to have been struck by one of the other vehicles, causing it to leave the roadway.

One of the occupants inside the vehicle was pronounced deceased on the scene, and another occupant was transported by the Hoover Fire Department to a local hospital with what are believed to be serious injuries.

Descriptions of all the involved vehicles were provided by 911 callers and disseminated to patrol officers in Hoover and adjacent agencies.

A short time later a Hoover Police officer observed the other two vehicles believed to be involved traveling on John Hawkins Pkwy near Hunter Street.

The officer attempted to stop the vehicles, but both fled. One of the vehicles, a Jeep Cherokee, was involved in a single vehicle crash at the intersection of Highway 31 and I-459.

One individual was taken into custody at that location without incident. The other vehicle, a BMW M4, continued fleeing and was pursued by officers with several area agencies. That vehicle eventually stopped at a gas station on Morgan Road in Helena where one individual was taken into custody without incident.

The Jefferson County Coroner/Medical Examiner’s Office identified the deceased individual as Tamarion Burton, 19-years-old, of Jackson, Mississippi.

The preliminary investigation into this incident indicates that all three vehicles were occupied by individuals who knew each other.

The group of vehicles was traveling back to Mississippi from the Atlanta area.

They were each traveling at a very high rate of speed together on I-459 when the BMW M4 and Nissan Sentra collided with one another, sending the Nissan Sentra off the roadway and into a tree.

The BMW and Jeep Cherokee both briefly stopped but fled the scene when police arrived, resulting in the pursuit.

Authorities have charged Tyrique M. Carter, 22, of Byram, Mississippi, and charged him with reckless murder, leaving the scene of an accident and and fleeing police.

In addition, Elisha Jamal Lindsey, 22, of Jackson, Mississippi, was also charged with reckless murder and fleeing police.

Both were held without bond.

Police said additional charges are expected.