The Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office reported that a deputy successfully traced a stolen SUV thanks to a cell phone equipped with a tracking app left inside. However, what followed resulted in a severe injury to an innocent driver and has sparked inquiries into pursuit protocols.
Katie Grace, along with her boyfriend’s mother, approached the intersection of SH276 and John King Boulevard in Rockwall just before noon on Feb. 24 when her dash camera captured the harrowing collision.
Troy Dureault, 23, and other vehicles were stationary at a red light.
“I looked to the left of me, and all of a sudden, I see a green Toyota SUV barreling down John King,” recounted Dureault. “I didn’t really have much time to react.”
Dureault mentioned that his view was obstructed by larger vehicles beside him. He couldn’t recall hearing sirens and proceeded forward once the light turned green.
The violent crash left the innocent driver with severe injuries.
“Police had him at about 70 miles during the crash,” he stated. “I did give myself a pat-down, and when I reached my collarbone, I figured out it was broken.”
Grace and other motorists stopped to provide assistance.
The suspect’s SUV flipped and caught fire.
“I was barely able to see his car, let alone the actual assailant,” said Dureault. “They had already drawn guns on him by the time I got out of the vehicle.”
According to an RCSO spokesman, the pursuit lasted approximately 1.5 minutes and reached speeds of over 85 miles per hour.
The suspect, Joseph Breaux of Shreveport, sustained minor injuries and remains incarcerated on a $95,000 bond. Breaux, 41, faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, evading arrest, and unauthorized use of a vehicle.
The sheriff’s office declined an on-camera interview with NBC 5 about the incident or the department’s pursuit policy, requesting an open records request.
The RCSO stated that its pursuit policy is intricate and multi-tiered. This incident, like all pursuits, will be scrutinized by the department, taking into account factors such as the time of day, weather conditions, and traffic.
“With that person going at that kind of speed, maybe back off,” questioned Troy’s mother, Suzanne Dureault. “I don’t know; I wasn’t in that predicament.”
She admitted she hasn’t had the opportunity to contemplate the events leading up to the crash and is solely focused on her son’s recovery.
Suzanne Dureault has only watched the dashcam video once.
Mounting medical bills, even with health insurance coverage, are a growing concern for the family.
“It’s going to end up falling back on us because it was a stolen vehicle,” she remarked.
Meanwhile, Troy Dureault believes the crash was the outcome of a series of unfortunate events.
“I don’t blame myself,” he asserted. “I don’t blame the police either; they were following their protocol.”
However, he advises drivers to wait a few seconds after their traffic light turns green.
Troy Dureault has been transferred to a rehabilitation facility in Greenville for physical therapy to regain his ability to walk, according to his mother.
The innocent driver is eager to return to camping and resume his full-time bartending job.
The family has a verified GoFundMe fundraiser to help offset medical expenses. Click here for more details.
