Maggie Dunn and Caroline Gill, 17 and 16, respectively, were killed on New Year’s Eve 2022 when a police officer ran a red light while pursuing a suspect. The police officer collided with the teenager’s car, resulting in the death of the two young girls and severely injuring Maggie Dunn’s brother, who was in the vehicle but survived
On New Year’s Eve 2022, tragedy struck in Brusly, Louisiana, when a high-speed police chase ended in the untimely deaths of two teenagers—17-year-old Maggie Dunn and 16-year-old Caroline Gill. The girls, both cheerleaders at Brusly High School and known for their vibrant personalities and close friendship, were innocent victims in a collision caused by a police officer who ran a red light during the pursuit of a suspect. Also in the vehicle was Maggie’s younger brother, who sustained serious injuries but survived the crash. The incident sent shockwaves through the local community and reignited a national debate about the dangers and policies surrounding high-speed police chases.
The officer involved, David Cauthron of the Addis Police Department, was pursuing a suspect allegedly involved in a home invasion when the crash occurred. According to reports, Cauthron was driving at speeds exceeding 80 miles per hour in a 45-mph zone and ran through a red light without ensuring the intersection was clear. Surveillance footage and dashcam recordings later revealed that Cauthron made no attempt to brake before striking the vehicle carrying the teenagers. The impact was so severe that Maggie and Caroline died at the scene, while Maggie’s brother was transported to a hospital in critical condition.
In the wake of the collision, outrage and grief swept through the small Louisiana town. Vigils were held, and tributes poured in for Maggie and Caroline, both remembered for their kindness, dedication to school and sports, and strong community ties. The Dunn and Gill families called for justice and accountability, emphasizing that the girls had done nothing wrong and were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. The case drew attention from both state and national media outlets, many of which questioned the protocols governing high-speed pursuits in residential areas.
Legal consequences followed soon after. Officer David Cauthron was arrested and charged with two counts of negligent homicide and one count of negligent injuring. Prosecutors argued that his decision to engage in a high-speed chase through multiple intersections, including the one where the fatal crash occurred, demonstrated reckless disregard for public safety. His actions violated not only traffic laws but also standard policing procedures intended to weigh the risk to the public against the necessity of apprehending a suspect. The charges against Cauthron represented a rare move to hold law enforcement accountable in such cases, a point underscored by legal experts and civil rights advocates.
The suspect being pursued at the time of the crash was later apprehended and charged with multiple crimes, including home invasion and flight from an officer. However, public attention remained focused on the events leading up to the crash and the system that allowed it to happen. Critics pointed out that high-speed pursuits have long been known to result in collateral damage, often involving innocent bystanders. According to data from various law enforcement watchdog groups, hundreds of people die annually in the United States as a result of police chases, with a significant portion being uninvolved third parties.
The deaths of Maggie Dunn and Caroline Gill have since sparked renewed calls for policy reform. Advocates have urged police departments across the country to adopt stricter guidelines on when and how pursuits can be conducted. Some suggest that only suspects involved in violent crimes should be pursued at high speeds, while others advocate for the increased use of alternative methods like aerial tracking or GPS tagging. For the Brusly community, the loss remains deeply personal. As the case proceeds through the courts, their memory is honored through scholarships, memorial events, and a collective push for safer policing practices—measures aimed at ensuring that no other family has to endure a similar loss.
