Two Ocala men are facing felony charges after a street race ended in a violent crash that took the life of a 77-year-old woman.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the collision happened on August 8 at around 12:30 p.m. on Southwest 49th Avenue Road.
According to an arrest report, two BMWs, one black and one red, were racing on the residential, two-lane road when a third car, a Toyota Rav4, attempted to cross the intersection.
One of the troopers who responded to the scene wrote that at normal speeds, the car would have had time to cross the intersection. Due to his high speed, the driver of the black BMW T-boned the Rav4, striking its left-rear side.
The driver and front passenger of the Rav4 were hospitalized with moderate and critical injuries, respectively. The left-rear passenger, a 77-year-old Ocala woman, died of her injuries at the hospital, the report said.
The red BMW swerved to avoid the crash, kept driving, and fled from law enforcement, the report said.
The driver of the BMW involved in the collision, 28-year-old G, was interviewed by a trooper at the scene and said he “made a stupid decision” and wasn’t able to move out of the way by the time he saw the other car crossing the intersection.
Data pulled from his vehicle showed the car reaching speeds of 105 mph just seconds before the crash, over double the 45 mph speed limit of the road.
Upon the request of FHP, G voluntarily turned himself in at the Marion County Jail on August 14.
He was charged with vehicular homicide, street racing, and three counts of reckless driving.
Throughout the course of the investigation, investigators learned that the other driver, 21-year-old E, stopped in a parking lot shortly after the crash and had the car towed back to his rental home.
The tow truck driver heard about the crash the following day and reported what he knew to FHP. Surveillance footage and information from a witness helped connect E to the red BMW, and while he wasn’t located at his home, he was later arrested by U.S. Marshals in Miami, FHP said.
E is in the process of being extradited back to Marion County and is being charged with vehicular homicide, fleeing law enforcement at high speeds, and reckless driving. He also has a pending charge for street racing.
Focused on Fair Compensation for Car Accident Injuries
At Ovadia Law Group, we are focused on helping clients pursue fair compensation after a car accident. Our attorneys understand how to evaluate damages and build claims that reflect the full impact of your injuries. We take a strategic approach to every case, ensuring that all relevant factors are considered. Our goal is to protect your rights and advocate for your best interests. With experience in car accident and personal injury law, we are prepared to handle complex cases. We are committed to delivering results while maintaining a supportive environment for our clients. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, call us at 1-800-674-9396 for a free consultation and learn how we can help
Source: Wfla
