Police in Sebastian, Florida have arrested a 20-year-old driver after leading authorities on a high-speed chase that only ended after an innocent bystander crashed into the young man’s car.
The series of events started at approximately 3:20 p.m. on Thursday, March 2 when the Indian River County Sheriff’s department received a call about a possible auto burglary in progress at the Intergenerational Recreation Center in Vero Beach.
A witness revealed to police that three males driving a white BMW entered the parking lot and attempted to steal several vehicles. Soon after, police spotted the BMW in question with just one occupant inside. Rather than surrendering, 20-year-old Richard Harris rammed into a police vehicle and started to flee, Sebastian Daily reports.
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Soon after the chase commenced, a police helicopter started to track the BMW where, at times, it hit up to 90 mph (145 km/h). The driver can be seen recklessly crossing the median strip of a large road at one stage during the chase while at another time, is seen speeding along a sidewalk, narrowly avoiding a pedestrian.
The chase came to an abrupt end when Harris started to make a U-turn but unknowingly turned directly into the path of a bystander. With no time to react, the bystander’s car can be seen slamming into the rear quarter panel of the BMW, spinning it around, and pushing it into the front of a white pickup parked on the side of the road. The crash occurred in front of the Sebastian River High School.
“At the time of the crash, it was noted that Sebastian River High School was preparing for afternoon sporting events with a high volume of traffic and students,” an affidavit revealed. “The driver was taken into custody and showed no remorse for his behavior and was laughing numerous times while EMS was tending to other drivers.”
Harris had no valid driver’s license at the time of his arrest and was charged with reckless driving with serious bodily injury, felony reckless driving, no valid driver’s license, leaving a scene of an accident with property damage, felony fee & elude, and two counts of auto burglary after police determined the white 430i was stolen in Sunrise, Florida. He was transported to the Indian River County Jail, where his bond was set at $535,000.