A Margate man died Wednesday evening in a chain reaction of crashes while fleeing from a trooper in Plantation, Florida Highway Patrol said.
The fleeing driver, a 52-year-old man, crashed three different times with three other cars in the area of North University Drive and North Marcano Boulevard about 7 p.m., according to Lt. Indiana Miranda, an FHP spokesperson. The other drivers involved had no or minor injuries.
The Margate man was driving a Ford Focus into oncoming traffic in the inside lane of North University Drive when his two left tires entered the center lane, colliding with the left side of a 2023 Hyundai Elantra that was traveling in the correct flow of traffic, according to FHP. The 20-year-old woman in the Hyundai was able to stop in the inside lane and was not injured.
After the first crash, the Ford Focus continued driving against traffic in the inside lane and collided head-on with a 2021 Honda Accord, Miranda said.
Both the Honda and Ford Focus spun out of control in different directions before the Honda stopped in the inside and center lanes. The 41-year-old Hollywood man driving the Honda had minor injuries, Miranda said.
The Ford Focus continued to spin and entered the center lane again, where it crashed for a third time with a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze, according to FHP. The two cars were entangled with one another when they came to a stop, blocking all lanes of North University Drive.
Miranda did not provide information on any injuries of the 22-year-old from Plantation in the Chevrolet, or the person’s gender or hometown. The Margate man driving the Ford was pronounced dead at the scene. The identities of the four drivers involved were not released.
FHP said the man who died was “actively fleeing” from a trooper but did not provide further information about the pursuit. Their investigation is ongoing.
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