A St. Petersburg man was transported to Shands at UF after allegedly stealing a Department of Transportation pickup truck and crashing into seven vehicles on University Avenue Tuesday.
Perry Swinton, 18, allegedly stole the truck at 1500 E. University Ave. and headed west before hitting a car at the intersection of Waldo Road and East University Avenue, according to Gainesville Police Department spokesman Lt. Keith Kameg.
He hit another car at 300 W University Ave. before colliding with five more cars at 100 W University Ave., Kameg said.
The accident, which occurred at 3:15 p.m., sent two to Shands, including Swinton, who "had to be cut out of the vehicle, but is expected to live," Kameg said, adding that the vehicle was traveling at speeds "in excess of 100 mph."
According to witness Jay Derenthal, Swinton was conscious but appeared to be "in shock and nodding out" just seconds after the last collision occurred.
Derenthal got a fire extinguisher after noticing gas leaking from the truck, where Swinton lay pinned by wreckage.
He waited, warning those around the scene not to smoke, for about seven minutes until rescue vehicles arrived at the scene.
Kameg said charges have not yet been filed, but Swinton will face stolen vehicle charges "at the minimum."
