Stolen Car, Bus Crash into Home

A PSTA bus and a stolen Toyota Venza crashed into a home in Jordan Park Monday evening with a The stolen car, driven by 21-year-old Derrick Mims, was being chased by Gulfport Police.

Mims, according to police, led Gulfport Police through Gulfport and then St. Pete, exiting the interstate at 28th Street South. Mims turned into the neighborhood, ultimately heading eastbound on 11th Avenue South. After running several stop signs, Mims entered the intersection of 25th Street, running another stop sign and driving into the path of a PSTA bus.

Both vehicles swerved slightly just prior to impact. According to the police report, the right front corner of the PSTA bus struck the left front corner of the Toyota. Both vehicles then stayed together and left the southeast corner of the intersection, striking the front porch of 1114 25 St. S. 

No one was home at the time of the crash, police said.

Mims, who had a revoked license, is being charged with grand theft auto, fleeing & eluding and child endangerment.

According to police, Mims 2-year-old son was in the car at the time of the accident. Police said the child was unrestrained and without a child seat.

The 2-year-old child was transported to and is listed in stable condition at this time. Gulfport Police said they did not know a child was in the car during the pursuit.

There were two other individuals in the stolen Venza. A passenger, Chad Springer, was the sitting the in the front right seat of the Venza and is at in critical condition.

A third man, who has yet to be identified, fled from the scene. That suspect is described as a black male in his 20s wearing a baseball hat, red T-shirt and blue jean shorts.

There were six people inside the PSTA bus, however none of them were seriously injured.

The Stolen Car

The stolen vehicle involved in Monday afternoon's crash with a PSTA Bus was reported stolen to St. Petersburg Police on Sunday, July 8 from the residence located at 5020 3rd Ave. N.

According to police, the stolen Toyota Venza is an Avis rental car that was being used by Tiffany Grimes.

Grimes told the investigating officer that she had rented the vehicle from Avis on July 7.

She said that July 8 about 1:20 a.m. she drove to 5020 3rd Ave. N. to visit a friend and had left the car parked in a driveway off the alley with the keys in the ignition and the doors unlocked while she went inside, police said.

Police said she estimates she was in the residence for approximately 10 minutes when she returned to the area where she had left the car and found it missing.

No suspect was ever seen and Grimes stated that she not given permission for anyone to take the car.