Stolen vehicle pursuit in Macon ends in crash; 10 juveniles involved, 4 in critical condition

Deputies say the chase began around 1:30 a.m. when deputies responded to a call about an entering auto on Lamar Road.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A 17-year-old driver led Bibb County deputies on a high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle packed with 10 juveniles, ending in a crash that left four young passengers in critical condition, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release on Thursday.

Jakhori Jamal Woolfolk, the driver, was arrested after a foot pursuit and charged with theft by receiving stolen property. The vehicle, a 2005 Chevrolet Trail Blazer, was reported stolen the previous morning.

Deputies say the chase began around 1:30 a.m. Thursday after deputies responded to a call about an entering auto on Lamar Road. The caller gave a description of the vehicle used, the Trail Blazer, and it was located on Napier Avenue.

“The deputy attempted to make a traffic stop on the vehicle, but the driver refused to stop and accelerated leading deputies on a vehicle pursuit,” the release stated. The chase ended with a crash at the intersection of Mercer University Drive and Burton Avenue after a Georgia State Patrol unit performed a PIT maneuver on the vehicle.

A 17-year-old female passenger, Yakerria Jones, was removed from the vehicle and received medical aid on the scene. She’s in stable condition.

The remaining occupants had to be extracted from the vehicle, according to deputies. Four of the juvenile passengers, boys ages 12 to 14, were airlifted to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in critical condition. A fifth passenger, an 11-year-old boy, was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at a local hospital.

Three others, also ranging in age from 12 to 14, were taken to the Regional Youth Detention Center and are charged with theft by receiving stolen property and entering auto.

The driver, Woolfolk, is being held at the Bibb County Jail.

If you have additional information, call the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at (478) 751-7500 or Macon Regional Crimestoppers at 1-877-68-CRIME.