South Florida student faces charges for driving 116 mph

Student tells trooper ā€˜I was just trying to make it to classā€™

File photo (Copyright 2021 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.)

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. ā€“ A Pembroke Pines college student is facing charges for reckless driving, after being pulled over near the University of Florida for traveling at 116 mph.

According to his traffic citation, Joseph Dā€™ Andre Melhado, 20, was pulled over by a Florida Highway Patrol trooper while driving his white BMW at a high rate of speed on I-75 at the end of August.

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Authorities said dash camera video shows Melhado weaving in and out of three lanes of traffic when he was stopped during the schoolā€™s first day of the fall semester on Aug. 24.

When the trooper asked him why he was driving so fast, Melhado said ā€œ I was driving 116? I was just trying to make it to class.ā€

Melhado has been charged with reckless driving and speeding. He is set to appear in Alachua County Court on Oct. 12.


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Veronica Crespo writes for Local10.com and also oversees the EspaƱol section of the website. Born and raised in Miami, she graduated from the University of Miami, where she studied broadcast journalism and Spanish.

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