13-year-old dead after police pursuit results in crash; driver arrested

Brenda Adler, 13, died at the scene of the wreck at 12:11 a.m. on Saturday, May 21, according to the Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office. The vehicle crashed in the 600 block of Montrose Drive, that’s in Shreveport’s Pierremont neighborhood.(AP Images)
Published: May. 21, 2022 at 1:50 PM CDT|Updated: May. 21, 2022 at 9:18 PM CDT

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) - A teenager lost her life following a crash that took place just after 11:30 p.m. on Friday, May 20.

Brenda Adler, 13, died at the scene of the wreck at 12:11 a.m. on Saturday, May 21, according to the Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office. The vehicle crashed in the 600 block of Montrose Drive, that’s in Shreveport’s Pierremont neighborhood.

Officials say the pursuit began when BCPD officers attempted to stop a Chevrolet Tahoe for a traffic violation and the vehicle fled. Bossier police requested assistance from Louisiana State Police with the pursuit on I-20 in Bossier. As troopers joined the chase, the suspect vehicle crashed into a brick wall. The vehicle flipped multiple times until hitting a utility pole and stopping.

Adler was an unrestrained passenger and was ejected from the vehicle, where she sustained fatal injuries. A second unrestrained juvenile passenger was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver, later identified as Willie Player, 22, fled the crash and was taken into custody after a brief foot pursuit. He was not injured.

Player was booked into the Caddo Correctional Center and charged with negligent homicide, negligent injuring, aggravated flight, resisting an officer, hit and run driving, possession of a schedule I controlled dangerous substance, possession of a schedule II controlled dangerous substance and illegally carrying weapons.

After obtaining a search warrant, troopers found a handgun, a high capacity magazine and various drugs in the vehicle. Officials say they don’t believe impairment was a factor in the crash, however, toxicology samples were taken for analysis. The crash remains under investigation and an autopsy has been ordered.

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