Police chase ends tragically when suspect crashes into & kills innocent driver in St. Petersburg

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - One driver is dead and another is in jail after a two-county police chase ends tragically Friday night in St. Petersburg.

Manatee County Sheriff's Office says one of their deputies noticed a stolen white Lexus SUV headed northbound on 1st Street in Bradenton. The deputy said he turned on his blue lights and siren and followed the vehicle as it turned onto 26th Street.

According to the incident report the driver, a 16-year-old male, accelerated the Lexus to 60 miles per hour and made his way into Palmetto. The suspect then traveled north on US 41 and US 19 before finally getting onto I-275. He drove through the tollbooth and continued north on I-275 over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. All the time the Manatee County deputy followed in pursuit

A request was placed to St. Petersburg Police for assistance in stopping the stolen Lexus.

Investigators say from there the teen exited I-275 at 31st Street South. A St. Petersburg police sergeant attempted to deploy stop sticks on the off ramp as he drove by. While it appeared the Lexus may have partially run over some of the sticks, the sergeant could not determine if the SUV's tires had been punctured.

The suspect drove off northbound on 31st Street South in speeds, according to the sergeant, in excess of 70mph. Once he exited I-275, a MCSO Shift Commander made the decision to terminate the pursuit.

The teen continued driving fast and ran a red light at the intersection of 31st Street and 5th Avenue South striking a white 1997 Infinity sedan, said police spokesman Mike Puetz.

He attempted to flee the accident scene on foot but was captured by a police sergeant who had witnessed the crash. That sergeant said he did not see any law enforcement vehicles in pursuit of Harris at the time of the accident.

The driver of the Infinity, 56-year-old Gary Lane, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The teen was taken to Bayfront Medical Center suffering minor injuries. Following treatment, police took him to the Pinellas County Juvenile Assessment Center.

The suspect is facing numerous charges in both Pinellas and Manatee Counties including vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of a crash involving death, aggravated fleeing and eluding involving a death, grand theft auto, aggravated fleeing and eluding, and no valid driver's license.