Deputies said a man is dead after he fled from Pasco County to Hernando County early Thursday morning during an ongoing narcotics investigation
The Florida Highway Patrol said around 11:32 p.m., a Dodge Charger, driven by a 25-year-old man, was speeding north on Mariner Boulevard. The Dodge was weaving in and out of lanes after he had fled twice from Pasco County Sheriff's Office deputies.
According to FHP, the Dodge then tried to overtake a Ford Mustang before the man lost control and collided with a curb near Lindsey Drive. The Dodge was pushed back into the travel lane, where it collided with the back of the Mustang.
The Dodge continued to rotate before it crashed into a concrete retaining wall at the entrance to Seven Hills Plaza, and the man, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was thrown from the car. The driver was taken to a local hospital, where he passed away.
The Mustang's driver, a 48-year-old woman, suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
PCSO later said the Dodge was being searched as part of the narcotics investigation before the man fled from deputies.
While the Hernando County Sheriff's Office initially called the case a pursuit, PCSO said deputies were not in active pursuit at the time of the crash, and aviation assets were monitoring the vehicle.
Hernando deputies were not involved in the initial pursuit. The crash closed Mariner Boulevard until 5 a.m. Thursday.
'Cruise lights' on Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office patrol cars raise questions, confusion among drivers
Every driver knows that when you see red and blue flashing lights on a patrol car, you slow down, pull over, or get out of the way.
But in Hillsborough County, drivers will also now see deputies with their lights on, but not flashing. They're called "cruise lights," and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) recently implemented their use on all patrol vehicles.
