A chaotic car chase turned into a demolition derby on a Florida highway as a driver, desperate to escape the police, began violently crashing into cars blocking his path, according to the Citrus County Sheriff's Office.
The incident occurred in Citrus Springs on Friday, June 23, 2023, with speeds reaching up to 100 mph.
The driver, a man from Elgin, South Carolina, was eventually apprehended after losing control of the vehicle and crashing.
Authorities reported that deputies had two encounters with the driver. The first encounter happened when he failed to pull over during a traffic stop, and the second occurred 16 miles south in Inverness.
When the suspect's vehicle was forced to stop in heavy traffic near the intersection of South Croft Avenue, deputies attempted to make contact with the driver, but he refused to comply with their commands.
In an attempt to flee, the driver intentionally and aggressively rammed the vehicles in front of him while deputies were present.
Shots were fired by deputies to halt the dangerous actions of the driver, but he continued to ram vehicles until he found a gap, allowing him to escape through the congested traffic.
The driver continued west on Gulf to Lake Highway for another seven and a half miles, at times reaching speeds over 100 mph.
Eventually, he drove into oncoming traffic and lost control of the vehicle, side-swiping several vehicles before coming to a stop near the entry/exit ramps of the Suncoast Parkway along Highway 44.
Deputies promptly apprehended the suspect and provided first aid until emergency medical services arrived.
The driver, identified as 23-year-old Ahvi Samaad Deberry-Howe, was hospitalized in Pasco County for a non-life-threatening bullet wound from being shot by a deputy.
Deberry-Howe will face charges of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated fleeing and eluding, and resisting arrest with and without violence. He is currently held without bond.
The exact number of damaged vehicles during the incident has not been disclosed by investigators.
Fortunately, Sheriff Mike Prendergast stated that the drivers who were rammed during this rampage did not sustain serious injuries.
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