Benjamin Bratt's Nephew Dies in Police Chase

Benjamin BrattKristopher Bratt, nephew of actor Benjamin Bratt, was killed early Tuesday morning when a stolen car being pursued by police in San Francisco ran a red light and plowed into Kristopher's car. Bratt died immediately, while his passenger died a short time later. He was 20.

The two men driving the stolen Saturn are currently behind bars. The driver, Richard Gosnell, is facing numerous charges, including two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter, one count of felony hit and run, one count of evading police causing death, one count of stolen vehicle, one count of possession of stolen property, one count of speeding and one count of running a red light, according to San Francisco Police Sgt. Steve Mannina.

Gosnell and his passenger, Joshua Wilson, were treated for minor injuries before taken into custody. Wilson faces one count of stolen vehicle and one count of possessing stolen property.

Kristopher is the son of Bratt's oldest brother.

Reader Comments

(Page 1 of 27) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

1. Sad

Posted at 7:03PM on Dec 12th 2007 by michelle

2. I blame the police, no need to chase a stolen car.

Posted at 7:03PM on Dec 12th 2007 by FlBiker

3. How tragic.....how senseless.
What a sad holiday season for the family.

Posted at 7:05PM on Dec 12th 2007 by Shelley

4. How sad! My deepest sympathies to the families suffering through this tragedy. I know, personally, the devastating effects of high speed police chases - as I lost a good friend many years ago to one when, just like Kristopher, his car was hit by someone evading the police. I pray that Kristopher and his passenger are at peace with the deity they held close to their hearts.

Posted at 7:09PM on Dec 12th 2007 by Her Witchiness

5. As far as I know (I live one block from where the accident happened) the police didn't chase the car. They turned the siren on for the car to pull over after verifying the license plate and the suspects simply ran the light.. No chase took place. Don't blame the police on this one.

Look for details at sfgate.com

Posted at 7:31PM on Dec 12th 2007 by freshberries

6. 561, you put 'First!' on a frickin' site where someone has tragically died? WTF? Is that really where your head is at - grow up.

Posted at 10:49PM on Dec 12th 2007 by mdi

7. That happened near where I live recently - an prominent & generous MD was hit by an illegal alien DUI red light runner going 60 in a 30 zone - the side airbag wasn't enough.

Posted at 7:11PM on Dec 12th 2007 by Q

8. That's horrible. Ben please please please let me comfort you during this difficult time.

Posted at 7:13PM on Dec 12th 2007 by Bird

9. 3. I blame the police, no need to chase a stolen car.

Posted at 7:03PM on Dec 12th 2007 by FlBiker

How about blaming the tools in the stolen car? My sincerest sympathy to Kristopher's family.

Posted at 7:13PM on Dec 12th 2007 by river rat

10. why is it that the driver of a stolen vehicle or even a drunk driver who hits a car walks away almost always scar free, but the person they hit, always dies?

Posted at 7:35PM on Dec 12th 2007 by why

11. Instead of blaming the police, why don't you blame the morons who stole the car to begin with.

Posted at 2:35PM on Dec 13th 2007 by G

12. Radical liberalism run amok - drivers think they can drink & drive fast & kill innocents - then the neoliberal judges will let them walk.

Posted at 7:14PM on Dec 12th 2007 by 9

13. God bless both these young men and their families.

RIP

Posted at 7:16PM on Dec 12th 2007 by Ranger

14. This is very sad!
Although in SF where the police commissioner ( Theresa Sparks) a post op transexual and a sexual deviant this will keep happening.
She owns a sex toy store and is involved in the Taiwan sex trade.
She sounds like a man, has a adams apple but is half woman.
Now I feel folks should do what the please but when you are involved with leading Police officers you must have some sort of cradibility and this woman is a FREAK!! and commands no respect from anyone.
She will keep letting criminals on the streets and will continue to punish officers for doing their job, so why should they.
The police commissioners motto is "TO PROTECT AND SERVE TIME"
Check this out you wont believe it!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theresa_Sparks

Posted at 7:16PM on Dec 12th 2007 by RAT

15. How sad, I blame the police, are you all a bunch of morons? Yeh, all criminals are victims, its always someones else's fault. Typical of the victim society we live in today. Thank god I'm voting for Obama, he's for putting these type of people behind bars, not on a pedistal

Posted at 7:20PM on Dec 12th 2007 by fatdog

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments