Police: 4 injured in 3-vehicle crash

FLEEING .DRIVER
Police: 4 injured in 3-vehicle crash
By MATTHEW PLEASANT
NYT Regional Media Group

WINTER HAVEN
A 26-year-old driver fleeing from police caused a Multi-vehicle crash at U.S. 17 and Avenue G Southeast that injured him and three others, two seriously, Tuesday night, Winter Haven police
said.
The driver, Frenanadio Dwayne Washington, of 300 Lee Ave. N.W., was thrown from his vehicle, suffering head injuries, a broken shoulder and several fractured vertebrae. He was airlifted
to Lakeland Regional Medical Center.
His passenger, Lemyuel Blaine Johnson Jr., 25, of 847 Cinnamon Drive in Winter Haven, suffered facial fractures.
He was taken to Winter Haven Hospital and later was transferred to Tampa General Hospital.
Also injured were the drivers of two other cars. Angie Diaz suffered multiple pelvic fractures and a broken ankle. She was taken to Winter Haven Hospital and later was transferred to
Tampa General. Lauren Cobarrubio sustained minor injuries and was treated and released from Winter Haven Hospital, police said.
The incident began late Tuesday night, when Winter Haven police officers were in the area of Seventh Street Southwest and Avenue O investigating personal robberies, the Winter Haven Police Department said.
The officers, who were outside their unmarked vehicle, saw a car run a stop sign at that intersection about 11:20 p.m. When the officers found the car at Ninth Street Southwest and Avenue O, an officer approached the passenger side of the vehicle, signaling the driver to stop. Police said Washington drove around the officer and left the area at a high rate of speed. The fleeing vehicle ran the stop sign at Ninth Street Southwest and Avenue N. Washington’s car then drove past a marked police car that had its emergency lights on in the 600 block of Avenue M Southwest and headed north on Sixth Street Southwest. That officer turned around in an effort to catch the vehicle, but as he passed Avenue K Southwest, he turned off his lights and sirens, realizing he would be unable to do that. As the officer turned onto Avenue G Southwest, he saw Washington enter the intersection at U.S. 17 in a Ford Taurus while Cobarrubio was headed north in a Chevy Cavalier. Washington’s vehicle crashed into Diaz’s, causing her car to spin. Washington then hit Cobarrubio’s car, causing her to crash into a pole on the west side of U.S. 17, police said. Charges are pending as the investigation continues.