Another Florence Police Chase & Jon Willingham is Dead

Jon Willingham had an infectious smile, a bright future, and a brother Josh who plays for the Washington Nationals baseball team. Now Jon Willingham is dead, killed early Saturday morning during a police chase.

Jon graduated from Mars Hill Bible School in 2000 and attended his brother's alma mater, the University of North Alabama, for two years. Nothing in his background would have suggested his life would be anything but successful, much less end in this manner.

The chase began when Florence police officers attempted to stop Jon for a noise violation; according to authorities, the pursuit never topped 50 miles an hour. Yet, Jon failed to make an acute turn and lost control of his car. In less than 10 minutes, 27 years of life was snuffed out, and we do have to ask why.

This is not the first Florence police chase in recent memory in which an individual lost his life. We've read both the pros and cons of such pursuits. Certainly no one is going to change his or her mind concerning the necessity of such chases because of what's written in one blog.

Alabama State Troopers will be investigating the death, since Florence Police are involved. The names of the two officers who instigated the chase have not been released.

Our sincerest sympathy to the Willingham Family. The family has requested that memorials be made to Mars Hill Bible School in Florence.