A fleeing vehicle burglary suspect crashed into another car and killed that car’s driver, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.FCSO said deputies were informed Tuesday morning that three burglary suspects who were wanted in St. Johns County had entered Flagler County, driving a gray Chevrolet Suburban SUV. The vehicle was spotted traveling on South Old Kings Road in Palm Coast and later around 12:30 p.m., driving south on I-95.Deputies attempted to use Stop Sticks to slow the vehicle after it exited I-95 to travel west on Old Dixie Highway, but the Stop Sticks were unsuccessful. The suspect vehicle then fled south on US Highway 1 towards I-95 and sideswiped an FCSO vehicle before continuing to drive recklessly, according to the sheriff’s office.The suspect vehicle ultimately entered the I-95 exit ramp and crashed into another vehicle head-on. FCSO said the suspects fled on foot but were apprehended by deputies. The driver and sole occupant of the other vehicle was airlifted to a nearby hospital, where the driver later died.Florida Highway Patrol identified the victim as a 71-year-old Ormond Beach woman.FHP said the suspect driving the Chevrolet at the time of the crash was Stevens Charles, 40, of Miami. Charles was booked into the Volusia County jail Tuesday night on a variety of charges including reckless driving resulting in serious bodily harm, leaving the scene of an accident with serious bodily injury, leaving the scene of a crash with death, fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement with lights and sirens active and murder not pre-meditated during the commission of a felony.The other two vehicle burglary suspects have not yet been identified by law enforcement.”It is with great sadness, the actions of these dirtbags resulted in the tragic loss of an innocent life,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “This crime spree started in St. Johns County with vehicle burglaries and ended violently with the death of an innocent person. 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. 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.”FHP is investigating the crash, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the vehicle burglaries, and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said it will review the actions taken by FCSO deputies.
A fleeing vehicle burglary suspect crashed into another car and killed that car’s driver, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
FCSO said deputies were informed Tuesday morning that three burglary suspects who were wanted in St. Johns County had entered Flagler County, driving a gray Chevrolet Suburban SUV. The vehicle was spotted traveling on South Old Kings Road in Palm Coast and later around 12:30 p.m., driving south on I-95.
Deputies attempted to use Stop Sticks to slow the vehicle after it exited I-95 to travel west on Old Dixie Highway, but the Stop Sticks were unsuccessful. The suspect vehicle then fled south on US Highway 1 towards I-95 and sideswiped an FCSO vehicle before continuing to drive recklessly, according to the sheriff’s office.
The suspect vehicle ultimately entered the I-95 exit ramp and crashed into another vehicle head-on. FCSO said the suspects fled on foot but were apprehended by deputies. The driver and sole occupant of the other vehicle was airlifted to a nearby hospital, where the driver later died.
Florida Highway Patrol identified the victim as a 71-year-old Ormond Beach woman.
FHP said the suspect driving the Chevrolet at the time of the crash was Stevens Charles, 40, of Miami. Charles was booked into the Volusia County jail Tuesday night on a variety of charges including reckless driving resulting in serious bodily harm, leaving the scene of an accident with serious bodily injury, leaving the scene of a crash with death, fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement with lights and sirens active and murder not pre-meditated during the commission of a felony.
The other two vehicle burglary suspects have not yet been identified by law enforcement.
“It is with great sadness, the actions of these dirtbags resulted in the tragic loss of an innocent life,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “This crime spree started in St. Johns County with vehicle burglaries and ended violently with the death of an innocent person. 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. 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.”
FHP is investigating the crash, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the vehicle burglaries, and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said it will review the actions taken by FCSO deputies.
A tragic incident occurred in Flagler County, Florida, when a motorist was fatally struck by a vehicle involved in a burglary spree. The suspects were fleeing the scene of their latest vehicular burglary attempt when they collided with the victim, highlighting the dangerous lengths to which criminals will go and the incidental harm that can befall innocent bystanders.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office reported that the suspects were involved in a series of vehicle burglaries throughout the county. The series of events leading to the fatal collision began in the early hours of a sleepy morning when the suspects started breaking into vehicles in a quiet residential area. Residents reported multiple break-ins, and law enforcement was promptly alerted.
During the spree, the suspects were interrupted and rapidly fled the scene in a stolen vehicle. In their haste to evade capture, they drove recklessly, leading to the heartbreaking incident. The victim, whose identity has been withheld for privacy and out of respect for the family, was out driving at the time and become an unsuspecting target of the fleeing suspects’ desperate escape attempt.
After the collision, the suspects fled on foot, sparking an extensive manhunt by local authorities. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, along with neighboring law enforcement agencies, launched a large-scale search operation deploying both ground and aerial assets.
The community has been left in shock and mourning. Local officials and residents expressed their frustration and sorrow over the loss of life stemming directly from criminal activity. Community safety forums and neighborhood watches are being called for to tackle the rising vehicular burglary rates, which not only lead to the loss of property but now, tragically, loss of life.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the broader consequences of crime, impacting not only direct victims but entire communities. It emphasizes the urgent need for effective law enforcement strategies and community cooperation to deter such reckless and harmful behaviors. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the incident, hoping to bring the suspects to justice and reinforce measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Meanwhile, local community leaders and safety advocates are working together to increase awareness about vehicle safety and anti-theft practices while encouraging residents to report suspicious activities promptly. The loss of a community member has undoubtedly united Flagler County in calling for stronger actions and prevention plans to ensure their neighborhoods remain safe for all residents.FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — A tragic incident occurred involving a suspect fleeing from a vehicle burglary, which resulted in the death of another car’s driver, as confirmed by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
Early on a Tuesday morning, Flagler County deputies were alerted to three suspects wanted for vehicle burglaries in neighboring St. Johns County. The suspects were reported to be traveling in a gray Chevrolet Suburban SUV. The SUV was first seen on South Old Kings Road in Palm Coast and was later spotted headed south on I-95 around 12:30 p.m.
In an effort to apprehend the suspects, deputies deployed Stop Sticks after the SUV exited I-95 onto Old Dixie Highway. Unfortunately, the intervention failed, and the suspects continued their flight south on US Highway 1, sideswiping a sheriff’s vehicle and engaging in reckless driving.
The pursuit culminated when the suspect vehicle crashed head-on into another car on the I-95 exit ramp. The suspects attempted to flee the scene on foot but were quickly apprehended by law enforcement. The other car’s driver, the sole occupant, was airlifted to a hospital but succumbed to her injuries.
The deceased was identified by the Florida Highway Patrol as a 71-year-old woman from Ormond Beach. Stevens Charles, 40, from Miami, was driving the suspect vehicle. That evening, he was detained and faces multiple charges, including reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, and non-premeditated murder during the commission of a felony.
The names of the other two suspects involved in the vehicle burglary remain undisclosed by authorities. Sheriff Rick Staly expressed profound regret over the incident, stating, “The tragic loss of an innocent life was the direct consequence of these criminals’ reckless actions.” He assured that the sheriff’s office, along with the Florida Highway Patrol’s ongoing traffic homicide investigation, will work diligently to bring justice.
In the meantime, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the original vehicle burglaries, and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is reviewing the actions of its deputies involved in the incident.
