Man Caused 4-Vehicle Crash, Ran Away, Troopers Say

CLEARWATER, FL — The Florida Highway Patrol is asking for help identifying a man troopers say caused a multi-vehicle crash before running away.

According to the agency, one of its troopers clocked a 2015 Honda Civic doing 90 mph in a 55 mph speed zone on northbound U.S. 19 on Oct. 30 around 9:53 a.m. The trooper attempted to stop the Civic, but its driver fled on the U.S. 19 Frontage Road to Roosevelt Boulevard, a highway patrol report said.

Once on Roosevelt Boulevard, troopers say the Civic overtook a Honda CRV driven by James Porter, 74, of Clearwater. As it did, the Civic struck the CRV, a highway patrol report said. The impact caused Porter’s car to rotate and strike a Volvo driven by Carl Thornton, 71, of Clearwater. Thornton’s vehicle then struck a Kia Rio driven by Mark Karnegie, 52, of Largo.

After the crash, troopers say the driver of the Civic bailed out and ran into a nearby Carmax parking lot. He then headed to a Rodeway Inn, before managing to get away. Troopers have released surveillance photos of the man. Anyone who recognizes him is asked to call the highway patrol at 813-631-4020, *FHP from a cellphone or Crime Stoppers at 800-873-TIPS.

Several of the victims and their passengers suffered minor injuries, troopers say.

Surveillance photos courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol