Published: October 17, 2008 09:15 am      

Suspects dies after jumping from moving truck

A Fort Worth woman fleeing Cleburne detectives in a sports utility vehicle Wednesday died shortly after jumping from the moving vehicle.

Cleburne detectives working to serve multiple felony arrest warrants on identity theft suspects traveled to an apartment complex in the 6900 block of North Beach Street in Fort Worth. They met with Fort Worth detectives, who were also looking for one of the suspects. The Cleburne detectives remained after the Fort Worth officers left the scene.

At about 5:30 p.m. the three suspects returned to the apartment complex driving a 1993 Chevrolet Suburban, later determined to be registered to one of the suspects.

Cleburne detectives approached the three once they got out of the SUV, and one man ran away.

The woman, Deborah Diane Britton, 34, and a second male suspect jumped back into the SUV and drove off with Britton at the wheel, according to reports. Britton drove over curbs and grassy areas to elude police.

Cleburne detectives alerted Fort Worth police of the situation and followed Britton through area neighborhoods. The suspects threw several items from the truck, and Britton opened the driver’s side door at least twice while fleeing.

A Fort Worth officer joined the chase, but his vehicle was momentarily disabled when he turned around to follow the suspects. Cleburne officers lost sight of the SUV when it turned a corner.

Soon after, they observed Britton on the roadway and saw the SUV slow and veer toward the roadside. The male suspect then took control of the SUV and fled the scene.

Britton attempted to get up from the road, according to reports, and was handcuffed. An ambulance transported her to John Peter Smith Hospital where she died. Initial reports indicate the SUV she jumped from ran over her.

Six area law enforcement agencies had outstanding felony warrants out for Britton. Her Cleburne warrants were for fraud relating to an incident where a purse was stolen from an administrative office at Harris Methodist Walls Regional Hospital.

One Cleburne detective suffered minor injuries during the chase.

“Although Ms. Britton’s death was tragic, it was her own actions that precipitated it,” Cleburne Police Chief Terry Powell said. “All indications are that the detectives’ actions were both professional and appropriate.”