Two patrol cars burn after chase

Two patrol cars burn after chase

26 March 2011

published by www.gainesville.com


USA — Fire destroyed two Marion County Sheriff’s Office patrol cars Friday after deputies had concluded a pursuit of another vehicle that ended in Williston, according to officials.

Shortly before 7 p.m. Friday, a deputy said he noticed that the driver of a Chevy Cavalier traveling north on Northwest 160th Avenue from County Road 318 was not wearing his seat belt.

The deputy, along with a colleague, said he tried to stop the vehicle in the 18500 block of Northwest 160th Avenue, but the driver, whose name was not released by authorities, ignored them and continued driving.

During the pursuit, the vehicle entered Levy County and stopped behind a vacant lot located in the 21400 block of Northeast 35th Street.

The driver exited the vehicle and ran, and deputies stopped their patrol cars in a grassy area and gave chase.

As the deputy was relaying information about the incident, he said he noticed a fire where the patrol vehicles were parked in high grass.

The fire, which quickly spread, destroyed both patrol vehicles.

Fire rescue officials from Williston responded to the scene and extinguished the blaze.

Officials theorize the heat from the cars likely ignited the grass.

Deputies said they found the passenger from the vehicle, and she told them that the two had been smoking crack cocaine, which she said was the reason why they fled the area.

Authorities said that the driver who got away has a Levy County arrest warrant for burglary and his driver’s license had been suspended.
 


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