Nationwide — Naveah McGowan, a 19-year-old African American woman from Gwinnett County, Georgia, died early Sunday after a high-speed police chase ended in a violent crash. She was a passenger in a car that fled officers and flipped multiple times along Scenic Highway.
Naveah did not plan to go out that Saturday night, her family said. She only agreed after a friend invited her to come along. What she thought would be a simple night out ended in tragedy just hours later.
“It is unbelievable. She was 19. She thought she was just going out to hang out with friends,” said her sister, Tajjone McElya, according to WSB-TV.
Family members said Naveah did not even know the driver. Police identified him as 19-year-old Quintavias Martin from South Carolina. Investigators said he sped away from Snellville Police during a traffic stop around 2:30 a.m., with Naveah and two other passengers inside the car.
“Everybody in the car was asking, ‘Please just stop the car,’” McElya said. Police said the driver ignored those pleas and continued speeding.
The chase ended when the car struck a median, hit a mailbox, slammed into a utility pole, and flipped several times. McElya later spoke with the survivors, who said the passengers had removed their seatbelts and planned to get out if the car came to a stop..
Two passengers survived but suffered serious injuries. Naveah was pronounced dead at the scene.
Her family remembered her as hardworking, loving, and full of life. She dreamed of becoming a hair stylist and had been saving money for her first car and her own apartment.
“Light of the room. Anytime Naveah was on the scene she didn’t judge people at all. You could come to her as yourself. Neveah was just loving,” McElya said.
Martin remains in jail and faces three felony charges, including weapons-related charges, according to Snellville Police.
Naveah’s family hopes her story encourages others to be careful about who they ride with. A GoFundMe has been set up to help cover funeral costs. It has so far raised over $1,000.