Police: 9-Month-Old Girl Ejected From SUV During Police Chase In Texas, Killing Her

Saturday, April 7th 2007, 2:17 pm

By: News On 6

ALVARADO, Texas (AP) _ A woman led police on a 25-mile high speed chase until she crashed into a concrete median, killing her 9-month-old daughter in the collision, authorities said.

Alexxus Riza was thrown Friday night from the SUV, which rolled several times under an Interstate 35 overpass, said Trooper Dub Gillum of the Texas Department of Public Safety. The vehicle struck a traffic light before hitting the concrete barrier, officials said.

Aimee Andrea Riza, 36, of Keene, sustained minor injuries and was charged with manslaughter, evading arrest, resisting arrest and reckless driving, Gillum said.

``She was combative after the crash when they tried to extract her out of the vehicle,'' he said. ``The officers had to wrestle her to get her under control.''

A motorist had called the Somervell County Sheriff's Department to report a reckless driver. When Riza refused to stop, authorities chased her through two counties at speeds up to 110 mph, Gillum said.

Authorities used spikes, tried to block intersections ahead and backed off the SUV hoping it would slow down. But Riza continued to drive until she crashed, traveling on the rims after the SUV's tires were deflated, Gillum said.