Hernando deputy dies after after high-speed chase and crash

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A Hernando County deputy is dead after a high-speed chase early Sunday morning that spanned four counties.

The Hernando County Sheriff's Office says the chase began around 4:40 a.m. when Brooksville Police Officers spotted a reckless driver traveling the wrong way along U.S. Highway 41.  After an attempted traffic stop, 35-year-old Michael James Anthony of Silver Springs fled at a high rate of speed in a 1991 Honda Accord.

A pursuit followed and deputies from the Hernando County Sheriff's Office joined in to help.  Officials say the chase was terminated when deputies performed a PIT (Precision Immobilization Technique) maneuver on the suspect. Following the PIT, Anthony again fled from deputies and traveled south on U.S. Highway 41.

According to the report, at the intersection of U.S. Highway 41 and Ayers Road, Sgt. Brandon Ross lost control of his vehicle and collided with a pickup truck and a power pole resulting in minor injuries to the deputy. However, Deputy John Mecklenburg continued the pursuit that extended into Pasco County.

Just south of the intersection of Painter Place and U.S. Highway 41, Deputy Mecklenburg lost control of his vehicle, traveled onto the west shoulder of the roadway and collided with a tree. The patrol car initially caught fire, but the blaze was extinguished by other responding units.

This second crash involved serious injuries to Deputy Mecklenburg, who was subsequently flown to St. Joseph's Hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Hernando officials say Anthony continued to flee south through Pasco and Hillsborough Counties. Numerous calls were received from other motorists describing Anthony's reckless driving during this timeframe.

Then at 5:09 a.m., a trooper with the Florida Highway Patrol observed the suspect vehicle disabled with three flat tires in the tree line on the east shoulder of 4th Street North, south of Interstate
275 in Pinellas County.

As the trooper approached to investigate, Anthony walked from the tree line and surrendered without further incident. Anthony was transported under guard to Bayfront Medical Center after which he will be taken to the Pinellas County Jail to face multiple charges in several counties.