This story was updated to correct that only two of the three people in the SUV ran from the vehicle after the crash.
Dash cam video from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office shows the driver of an SUV fleeing from deputies and heading the wrong way on an Interstate 95 ramp in Volusia County before crashing into a car driven by a woman who died of her injuries, the sheriff’s office said.
The woman, a 71-year-old` Ormond Beach resident, was driving a 2017 Volkswagen Beetle. Her identity has not been released.
Deputies were chasing three vehicle burglary suspects wanted in St. Johns County, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said he has ordered a complete review of the incident.
“This death is the direct result of the poor decisions made by these criminals who had no regard for the life of those around them,” Staly stated in a previous release. “Although the Florida Highway Patrol is conducting a traffic homicide investigation, we will do everything within our power to make sure these suspects are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the victim’s loved ones.”
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office policy allows pursuits for “forcible felonies,” such as murder, manslaughter, sexual battery, carjacking, robbery and kidnapping, burglary, aggravated battery and other crimes.
When asked whether a burglary of a vehicle, also known as a burglary of a conveyance, would qualify as a forcible felony, Staly said it depends on circumstances of the particular burglary. He said his agency is requeting more infomation from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, which is the agency from which Flagler received the information that the suspects in the SUV were wanted.
Staly also noted that the fleeing SUV sideswiped a Flagler County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle during the pursuit and that would also qualify as an offense supporting a pursuit.
The sheriff’s office policy states that “the intentional striking of an occupied emergency vehicle by the subject vehicle is an aggravated battery and constitutes an imminent threat of physical harm to the public.”
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office video shows the fleeing SUV sideswiped a sheriff’s office patrol vehicle as the SUV passes the patrol vehicle.
The SUV lingers just ahead of the patrol car for a few moments before speeding far ahead of the pursuing patrol car.
The SUV speeds through the intersection at U.S. 1 and Destination Daytona Lane by the Love’s Travel Stop and gas station.
The SUV then turns onto the northbound off-ramp of Interstate 95 at U.S. 1. The SUV driver continues up the wrong-way on the ramp, pass two vehicles heading down the ramp. Then the SUV collides head-on into the Volkswagen Beetle. Two of the three in the SUV jumped out and ran into the woods by the off-ramp. But they are quickly captured, the sheriff’s office stated.
Other deputies ran to the woman in the Volkswagen Beetle and tried to provide aid and called for rescue, the sheriff’s office stated.
The woman was airlifted in critical condition to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach, where she later died of her injuries.
The driver of the SUV, Steven Charles, 40, of Miami, was charged with fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer, aggravated fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer, resulting in death; leaving the scene of a traffic crash resulting in death; felony murder; and resisting arrest without violence, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Joshua Hansen, 38, of Kissimmee, was arrested and charged with three counts of burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, three counts of petit theft and three counts of criminal mischief.
Another passenger was in the Chevrolet SUV but was later released, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office stated.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Video: SUV fleeing Flagler deputies crashes into car on I-95 ramp, killing innocent driver
Reporting by Frank Fernandez, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
