TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Stolen Car Crashes; 4 Injured

ADVERTISEMENT

By STEPHEN THOMPSON The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 26, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Six blocks after a St. Petersburg police officer tried to pull it over for a traffic violation early Friday, a Jeep Cherokee ran a red light and crashed into a pickup, critically injuring the passenger in the truck, police said.

The officer never instituted a police pursuit, police spokesman Bill Proffitt said.

The passenger, a 33-year-old man whose identity police did not release, was ejected from the pickup and was first thought to have suffered life-threatening injuries, Proffitt said. However, his condition had improved at Bayfront Medical Center, the police spokesman said.

The two men in the Jeep Cherokee, which had been stolen two days ago, ran off after the 1:40 a.m. wreck, Proffitt said. Two suspects had since been arrested, he said. They are Jonell D. Wilson, 18, of 2484 Lynn Lake Circle S., and David D. Rogers, 20, of 1251 11th Ave. S.

Both have been charged with auto theft. In addition, Rogers was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana. Additional charges were expected, Proffitt said.

Wilson, who was thought to be the driver of the Jeep at the time of the wreck, suffered major injuries after his face smashed into the steering wheel, Proffitt said. He lost all of his teeth, and one was found in his lung. Rogers suffered a knee injury.

Wilson and Rogers are at Bayfront Medical Center, Proffitt said.

The driver of the pickup, David Andre Leak, 24, of 9900 66th St. N., Pinellas Park, also suffered serious injuries, Proffitt said. He also was at Bayfront Medical Center.

At 1:40 a.m., Officer Matthew Hansell, while working a drunken-driving detail, spotted the 1997 Jeep, Proffitt said. Hansell suspected that the driver might have been impaired because the vehicle was not kept in a single lane, according to Proffitt.
Hansell followed the Jeep, watching it stop at a traffic light at Fifth Avenue North and 28th Street. The officer checked the license plate and found that the Jeep had been stolen, Proffitt said.
Hansell turned on his overhead lights when the Jeep reached First Avenue North and 28th Street, but the Jeep turned from 28th Street onto First Avenue North, and then sped off, accelerating rapidly and changing lanes, Proffitt said.

In keeping with department policy, Hansell did not pursue the Jeep, according to Proffitt. The department allows officers to chase a suspect only if the suspect is thought to have been involved in a violent felony.

The Jeep struck the side of the 1996 Chevrolet pickup at First Avenue North and 34th Street. A Nissan then collided with the pickup, but the driver of the Nissan was not seriously injured.

The Jeep was reported stolen to St. Petersburg police at 5:19 a.m. Wednesday. A man at home in the 5500 block of 18th Street Northeast heard a noise outside and saw someone steal his Jeep. He immediately called police.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT