The family of a high school athlete who died in a car wreck, following a high-speed chase with police this fall is asking questions about the events of his death after the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency turned an investigation into the incident over to Lawrence County, according to news reports.

Jaiden DeJarnett, 16, a football player from Sparkman High School in Harvest, died in an early morning accident when the car he was driving went off the road, hit a tree, and caught fire as he fled two police officers who pursued him across two north Alabama counties on Monday, September 4.

DeJarnett’s grandfather, Larry DeJarnett, told AL.com Wednesday that the family has ongoing concerns and questions about why DeJarnett’s life ended the way it did.

“I am just trying to get an understanding of what transpired that would cause the police to chase Jaiden or pursue him from somewhere in…Decatur to 41 miles away where he had the crash,” he told AL.com.

DeJarnett said he was told that his grandson, who was Black, was pulled over while driving through Decatur at about 2:40 a.m. for broken headlights.

“The driver failed to stop and led officers on a pursuit into Lawrence County,” Decatur police said in a statement issued after the accident.

“During the pursuit, the driver lost control of the vehicle and struck a tree. The driver was pronounced deceased on scene.”

He said he retraced the route that his grandson fled police, down miles of rural, gravel roads without any lighting, and it seemed impossible to him that his grandson could have driven those roads with no headlights.

According to an investigative report of the crash completed by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, DeJarnett was driving eastbound on County Road 270 at, “an extremely high rate of speed in an active attempt to elude pursuing law enforcement officers.”

According to the report, he crossed over a railroad track and went airborne, landing on the ground and losing control. His vehicle, a Mazda four door, crossed the center lane of traffic, ran off the roadway and hit a tree.

“The engine caught fire following the collision but was quickly extinguished by pursuing officers,” the report stated.

DeJarnett was pronounced dead at 3:39 a.m. by the county coroner.

One of the officers involved in chasing DeJarnett was also involved in the shooting death of Steve Perkins, according to WAFF 48 News.

Speaking to WAFF, another of DeJarnett’s grandfathers, Reginald McKenzie, said the family is looking for answers and justice for his death.

“He’s always been respectful, always did what I asked even when I chastised him,” he said.

The Decatur Police Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment to AL.com. ALEA turned the investigation over to Lawrence County recently, according to WAFF.

DeJarnett said he would like to get answers to more questions, like which officers were involved, where the pursuit began, and what policies exist about coordinating police chases across jurisdictions.

“I have no idea as to why it happened,” he said. “I don’t even have a speculation.”