Motorist Refuses to Stop for Police, Causes Fatal Accident

A driver who reportedly led police on a chase in Jacksonville after refusing to comply with a routine traffic stop eventually caused an accident that led to the death of an 11-year-old boy.

The boy was severely injured in the multivehicle crash, which took place on San Jose Boulevard in Jacksonville October 26. Police were attempting to pull over the driver for a routine traffic violation, but the man continued driving anyway, crashing into two vehicles stopped at a red light. One of those vehicles was a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office patrol car.

The boy was a passenger in the other car, and he passed away nearly a week later from his injuries. Three other children sustained injuries in the accident, as well.

Motorists responsible for negligent actions

All drivers are responsible for adhering to safe driving practices while on Florida’s roads and highways. This includes complying with police officers’ requests when being pulled over. In this situation, it seems clear that the driver was negligent in failing to pull over as quickly as possible.

If the family members of the boy who was killed were to file a wrongful death claim against the motorist in this case, they might argue that by forgoing this responsibility and ignoring other rules of the road, the driver was liable for the boy’s death and the injuries the other children sustained.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Florida auto accident, speak with a skilled Jacksonville personal injury attorney for more information about how you should proceed.

Attorney Mark Link contributed to this blog post.