Gainesville Police responded to two fatal car crashes within seven hours
The first crash was at 5:18 p.m. on Sunday, and the second occurred seven hours later.
GPD answered multiple calls about a crash at 400 NE 25th St. on Sunday evening. A stolen 2008 blue Ford Taurus, occupied by a 13-year-old and a 17-year-old, was speeding southbound on Northeast 25th Street when it almost collided with a stolen scooter, according to a GPD press release.
The Ford avoided hitting a 2017 green Taizhou by swerving off the roadway but then crashed into a tree. The impact split the car in half, according to the release.
The suspect driving the scooter fled the scene on foot and hasn’t been located, the release said. The 13-year-old in the car was pronounced dead on the scene and the 17-year-old was transported to UF Health Shands Hospital with life threatening injuries.
As of Monday morning, the 17-year-old remains in critical condition, the release said. GPD spokesperson Graham Glover said there aren’t any updates on the condition of the 17-year-old as of Monday afternoon.
GPD units responded to another hit-and-run crash on 2400 NE 15th Street at 12:15 a.m. on Monday, the release said. A vehicle hit Juanita Mae Jones, 30, on her scooter and drove away, the release said. When police arrived, they found the victim with severe head trauma struggling to breathe.
She was transported to Shands where she died shortly after.
After investigating, GPD arrested Latesia E. Fisher, 23, the driver of the vehicle. She abandoned the car near the scene after hitting the victim, the release said. When Fisher later returned to the scene, police observed multiple signs of impairment, the release said.
Glover didn’t give The Alligator any details about what signs of impairment officers observed.
She was arrested for DUI manslaughter, leaving the scene of a crash involving death and having no valid driver’s license, the release said. She is currently being held at Alachua County Jail with no bond.
Fisher was released from prison nine months ago after serving three years, according to the Florida Department of Corrections. She was convicted of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, theft of less than $5,000 and use of counterfeit currency and forged legal documents.
Anyone with further information about the crash involving the stolen Ford should contact GPD traffic homicide investigators at 352-372-7687.
