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Pinellas County woman causes fatal crash while running from two previous crashes, police say

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PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — Police say a woman in Pinellas County caused a fatal crash Saturday morning while she was running from two previous crashes.

Pinellas Park Police say Katlynn Smith, 28, of Seminole, ran a red light at 66th Street and 70th Avenue after 10 a.m. Police say she crashed into the driver's side door of a Lexus driven by Kanh Nguyen, 53.

Police say Nguyen died from the injuries and Smith suffered serious injuries.

According to police, prior to the fatal crash Smith was initially involved in a crash near Starkey Road and Bryan Dairy Road. She ran from the scene of that crash without stopping and the other driver involved followed her, police say.

Smith continued driving recklessly on Bryan Dairy Road and hit another vehicle stopped at a red light at Belcher Road, according to police. She then ran the red light and continued through the intersection.

A few minutes later, while police were searching for Smith over the first two crashes, they say she crashed into Nguyen.

Smith is in custody while recovering at a local hospital. She faces charges for vehicular homicide and hit-and-run with property damage.

No one involved in the first two crashes sustained any injuries.