Belcher, Ulmerton Road Intersection Closing for Crash Investigation

LARGO, FL — The Largo Police Department has announced a temporary closing of the Belcher and Ulmerton Road intersection Wednesday night.

According to the agency, the closing is being prompted by an ongoing investigation into a Tuesday crash that has left an elderly man in critical condition. The agency’s traffic squad plans to close the intersection some time between 8:30 and 9 p.m. Oct. 26 so it can laser map the crash site, an email from police said. The closing will impact traffic in all directions. The closing is expected to last for at least two hours.

Police recommend motorists use East Bay Drive, Bryan Dairy, U.S. 19 or Starkey Road while the closing is in place.

The investigation pertains to a series of crashes that led to the arrest of Shaquille Clemons, 21, Tuesday. The incident began around 2:45 p.m. Oct. 25 when Largo police tried to stop a white Mercedes 250 in the area of 36th Street and Melody Lane near East Bay Drive. The Mercedes fled from the stop, heading eastbound on East Bay Drive, police said.

While fleeing the scene, police say the Mercedes sideswiped a white car, breaking its side-view mirror, and a school bus, causing minor damage. No children were on the bus when the incident occurred.

“Officers immediately stopped following or trying to further affect a traffic stop,” the email said. At that point, the Mercedes took off south on Belcher Road.

In the area of Ulmerton Road and Belcher, police say the Mercedes struck two more vehicles before its driver got out and tried to run away on foot.

“A Pinellas Park Officer was in the area in his marked vehicle and observed the suspect trying to flee the scene on foot,” the email said. That officer managed to bring the man into custody, the Largo Police Department wrote.

The crashes forced the closing of roads in the area for a time, but they were all open and clear before rush hour, police said.

Clemons now faces a long list of charges, including reckless driving with property damage, leaving the scene of a crash with property damage and injury, fleeing and eluding, violation of probation, possession of hydromorphone and others. Additional charges are pending, police say.

The elderly man who was injured at the Ulmerton and Belcher Road intersection has not yet been identified by police. The name of the Pinellas Park officer has also not been released.

No further information is available at this time.

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