PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – A speeding driver who fled from police and was involved in a hit-and-run collision on Thursday night died after a fiery rollover crash in Broward County, authorities said.
Miramar police officers said the driver was speeding at the 6600 block of Miramar Parkway. After officers tried to stop him, he drove off and went on to strike a pedestrian before suffering the rollover crash near the intersection of Southwest 44th Avenue and Hallandale Beach Boulevard in Pembroke Park around 9 p.m.
“The preliminary investigation revealed a 2011 black Mercedes-Benz E350 was traveling at a high rate of speed in the westbound lanes of Hallandale Beach Boulevard in an attempt to evade Miramar Police Department officers,” said the Broward Sheriff’s Office, which is investigating the deadly wreck. “The driver attempted to maneuver around traffic, lost control of his vehicle as it rotated and departed the roadway onto the shoulder. At that time, the vehicle began to roll over and strike multiple light poles, signs, concrete parking stops and a fire hydrant in the plaza located at 4500 W. Hallandale Beach Blvd.”
BSO added that the driver was “ejected from the vehicle through the windshield during the crash” after which “the vehicle came to rest on its roof and ignited in flames.”
The driver has not yet been identified.
“He hit the poles and then it lit on fire,” said witness Camille Moustardy, who owns a business nearby. “We [were] in shock.”
Fire Rescue personnel took the driver to the hospital. Investigators said a doctor pronounced the driver dead, and the Miramar pedestrian was hospitalized.
The pedestrian is expected to survive and was still being treated for his injuries Friday morning.
Miramar police say they have been running radar after several drivers speeding have crashed into homes in that area. They say the man killed Thursday night was one of those drivers going too fast in the area.
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