Orlando,FL : 58-year-old Orlando woman killed in five-vehicle crash on Thursday morning September 10 2015
Two stolen cars were involved in a five-vehicle crash Thursday morning that killed a 58-year-old Orlando woman and sparked a manhunt for two men who ran from the scene.
The two men -- a driver and passenger -- were in a stolen 2013 Dodge Challenger that was the last car involved in the chain-reaction crash, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The other stolen car was a white 2012 Lexus. Its 17-year-old male driver was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.
Troopers said the initial crash happened about 5:30 a.m. in the intersection of North Apopka-Vineland Road and Silver Star Road when the Lexus collided with a red Mazda sport utility vehicle driven by 37-year-old Ruben Suarez.
That started the chain of events," FHP Sgt. Kim Montes said. "After that we had several more collisions with very severe damage."
Troopers said the Lexus was heading east on Silver Star Road as Suarez was going south on Apopka-Vineland Road, and when the two collided, Suarez's Mazda was pushed into the left side of a blue 2013 Chrysler 200.
Annette Walton was driving the Chrysler and died at the scene. Suarez, of Apopka, was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries, according to troopers.
The Lexus continued on and collided with the back of a black 2009 Nissan Maxima, troopers said.
The driver of the Nissan, 30-year-old Gregory Prowell of Orlando, wasn't taken to the hospital but received minor injuries.
The Sentinel isn't naming the driver of the Lexus because he is a juvenile. Troopers said all of the drivers were wearing seat belts.
The stolen Dodge was attempting to turn right onto Silver Star Road from Apopka-Vineland Road when it came upon the crash scene, Montes said.
The Dodge collided with the Nissan and then continued east on Silver Star Road for about 500 feet before stopping in a parking lot. Surveillance video from nearby businesses show the driver and passenger getting out and walking back toward the crash scene, Montes said.
But then after "realizing the severity, probably knowing they were in a stolen car, [the men] left the scene on foot in an unknown direction," she said.
A Sheriff's Office helicopter helped with the search, but as of Thursday afternoon, the men hadn't been located.
Montes said it appears one of the drivers involved in the initial crash possibly ran a red light based on the position of the cars. Though troopers aren't sure who is responsible.
There are no red-light-running cameras here, we have no witnesses that have come forward, so obviously we have a lot of work to do to prove who ran the red light," she said. Troopers blocked the roads for more than five hours while investigating.
Source:
Mazda Motor : Troopers launch manhunt for 2 after 5-vehicle fatal crash