Greg Trapp (rear) and family at home in Berry, Ky. His mother, Mabel Trapp, was killed by a fleeing car. (Patrick Reddy/The Enquirer)

RULES OF PURSUIT

Most policies are similar, setting general guidelines but allowing officer discretion in considering factors such as speed, danger to other motorists and weather. Area policies include: Alexandria: Pursuits are limited to situations involving people wanted on felonies that "threaten, have threatened or will threaten health, life, or the safety of a person or persons.'' Butler County sheriff: Deputies are discouraged from pursuing suspects for traffic violations and other minor offenses. Cincinnati: City officers can pursue a felon or suspected felon, or if they see a traffic or misdemeanor violation being committed. Fort Thomas: Officers are authorized to pursue in felony cases and when a suspect presents a clear and immediate threat to other motorists. Source: Enquirer research

READING - Mabel Trapp and her boyfriend were enjoying a Sunday evening drive when, out of nowhere, a man being chased by Evendale police hit their car, killing Trapp and injuring her boyfriend.

Trapp's youngest son blamed the suspect for his mother's death. But he was left wondering why an argument between another couple was bad enough for police to start a chase that left the mother of four and grandmother of nine dead.

"There was no reason for this," said Greg Trapp, 33, of Berry, Ky. "I am really angry about it because my mom was a really healthy person."

Trapp, 68, of Hamilton, is the seventh person to be killed in three accidents that began as police pursuits throughout Greater Cincinnati in the past four months.

Her death underscores a continuing debate about high-speed police pursuits. Nationwide, studies have shown that almost one-third of high-speed chases end in accidents, killing almost 300 people a year.

Police departments nationwide have grappled with the issue, leading some to restrict chases and others to forbid them entirely.

But there is no one solution, many in law enforcement argue, for when to pursue and when to let a suspected criminal drive away.

"You can't have a policy for everything," Covington police Lt. Col. Mike Kraft said. "Pursuits are dangerous. You just have to try to control them as much as you can.''

Kathy Ballard, 49, of Kennedy Heights, died Sept. 29 when her car was hit by a purse-snatching suspect in a stolen pickup truck who was being pursued in Norwood by officers from Norwood, Cincinnati, Elmwood Place and St. Bernard.

In July, four passengers in a car driven by a man who sped from a Warren County sheriff's deputy were killed when the car crashed on Fields Ertel Road in Sycamore Township. Officials said the driver, Jerald Hundley, was going at least 100 mph - even after Deputy Ron Day stopped the pursuit. Day suspected Hundley of drunken driving and littering.

Police in the cases say the officers were justified, and all followed procedures.

In the Evendale crash, Police Chief Gary Foust said Randy Smith, 52, of Hartwell, was seen hitting a 22-year-old female friend in the face as the two sat in his vehicle at the Walgreen's on Reading Road Sunday just before 5 p.m.

Officer Erick Curry answered the domestic-trouble call, but the driver of the car tore out of the drugstore parking lot, Foust said. Curry, an eight-year veteran, flipped on his lights and siren and began to chase the man. Foust said the 1.2-mile pursuit reached speeds of about 100 mph south on Reading Road and into Reading.

The two-minute chase ended when Smith's car slammed into the back of the car in which Trapp was a passenger. The force of the collision flipped the car onto its hood and into a utility pole. Trapp was thrown from the car. Trapp's boyfriend, James Tedder, 57, of Hamilton, who was driving, was treated at Bethesda North Hospital and released.

Smith and his passenger, Rachel L. Roberts, 22, of Glendale, were treated at University Hospital and released. Smith remains jailed in Hamilton County and will be in court this morning on a charge of aggravated vehicular homicide. He likely faces additional charges including operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Tedder's nephew said his uncle told him that there was nothing he could do to avert the crash.

"He saw the car coming up out of the rearview mirror. He tried to get over in the right lane, but the car was going way too fast," Adam Ledford, 18, of Fairfield said. "A car coming up on you at 100 miles per hour, it's kind of hard to move in time."

'Refused to submit'

Foust said he sympathized with Trapp's family, but called the chase justified.

"You had an individual engaged in violent behavior who refused to submit to authority and still was in a very combative stage," Foust said. "I do know one thing: He did not want to submit to any type of authority. ...

"We looked at the seriousness of the offense and it's very easy for people to Monday-night quarterback after the fact, but I think the officer responded and acted properly with the facts known at the time."

In Evendale, officers are allowed to pursue a person suspected of a serious violent felony. Chases are also allowed when an officer thinks that a suspect is likely to cause others serious physical harm.

In an effort to reduce pursuits, many departments use spiked sticks that are thrown into the road to deflate the tires on fleeing suspects' cars. Reading police were deploying sticks at railroad tracks further south on Reading Road, but the crash occurred before Smith got there, Foust said.

Grief and anger

Members of Trapp's family were awaiting details of the crash, but some remained angry.

Two of Trapp's children called her generous, loving and hard working.

In January, she retired as an automated data processor. She and Tedder were living together and often vacationed in Florida.

"She would give the shirt off her back," said her daughter, Ava Ice, 47, of Falmouth. "She would walk into your house, see a dirty dish and take it to the sink. She was constantly on the move, very active."

Trapp once gave her youngest son $3,000 so his family wouldn't lose their home, Ice said.

Ice didn't want to talk about the circumstances of her mother's death until police conclude their investigations, which are ongoing.

But her brother was frustrated:

"I think this could have been prevented," he said. "I don't understand it. ... It shouldn't have happened. It shouldn't happen to anybody."

Jane Prendergast contributed to this report. E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com .