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Patrol: Car Topped 120 MPH In Chase Before Hitting Inn

Sarasota Herald-Tribune photo by STEPHEN JOHNSTON

The trooper who initially pursued Marie J. Obin called off the chase because he feared the driver was putting others in danger.

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By ROGER DROUIN

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Published: December 14, 2008

Updated: 12/15/2008 02:36 pm

A woman fleeing state troopers reached speeds of nearly 130 mph before crashing into Knights Inn and sending five people to the hospital Sunday morning.

A driver who saw the car come up behind him just before it crashed said he was certain he would be fatally hit. "It was the craziest thing I've ever seen in my life," he said.

The driver, Marie J. Obin, 40, and both of her passengers, a 4-year-old boy and a 78-year-old woman, were among the people hospitalized. An owner of the motel and another driver also were hospitalized.

It started about 10 a.m. Sunday when a trooper clocked Obin speeding down Bayshore Gardens Parkway, a heavily traveled road in Manatee County where many drivers exceed the 30 mph speed limit.

Obin sped off to U.S. 41, where she headed south, said Sean McCormick, the Florida Highway Patrol officer who initially chased Obin.

McCormick said he ended his pursuit when Obin's speed exceeded 100 mph and she ran a red light.

People who saw Obin speeding down U.S. 41 just before the crash said they did not see anyone in pursuit.

Mara Crootof said she was headed south on U.S. 41 when Obin sped past her, weaving in and out of a turn lane in the center of the highway.

"She was whizzing by," Crootof said. "I was thinking, 'I need to call 911 and tell them about this woman.' Then I saw all the smoke."

Steve Johnston saw Obin coming up behind him and thought he would be killed.

"It was the craziest thing I've ever seen in my life," Johnston said. "She was going so fast. I saw her in my rearview mirror, then I used an expletive, and I looked right, and I didn't even see her go past me."

Johnston said he thought the car went airborne before crashing into the motel.

Obin lost control somewhere near U.S. 41 and University Parkway, McCormick said. Her Nissan Maxima went into oncoming traffic, onto the sidewalk and through grass near Knights Inn before crashing into the motel office.

Obin was listed in serious condition Sunday. The child, Joseph Davidson of Bradenton, and the other passenger, Exina Obin, were taken to the hospital but were not seriously injured, according to the highway patrol.

Chantrikaven Patel, who owns the motel with her husband, Arvin, was in the office when the car hit. She was taken to a hospital but was not seriously injured, her husband said.

Ramona C. Castillo De Gutierre, 58, of Bradenton, also was taken to a hospital after Obin clipped the car she was driving.

Charges are pending, authorities said.

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