Motorcyclist Fleeing Police Hits Tree
Passenger, 16, is severely injured. Driver, 18, is jailed without bail.
By Amy L. Edwards
The Ledger
[email protected]
LAKELAND -- A 16-year-old motorcycle passenger suffered serious spinal and pelvic injuries Sunday when the driver of the bike crashed into a tree after fleeing from Lakeland police.
According to a Lakeland Police Department report, Krista C. Williams of Lakeland was riding on the back of a motorcycle driven by Brandon W. Strevels, 18, shortly before 1 a.m. in the New Jersey Road area when they crashed.
The report said officers first spotted Strevels, who has a suspended license and is considered a habitual traffic offender, speeding at Williamsburg Square.
Police initially didn't catch up to Strevels, the report said, but eventually found him at the Wood Lake Apartments on his motorcycle.
An officer turned on his patrol car lights and also yelled for Strevels to stop, the report said, but the 18-year-old refused and sped away.
Two officers tried to pursue Strevels, but the report said, his motorcycle was too fast and they lost sight of him.
The officers called off their pursuit but continued to look for the motorcycle, the report said.
One of the officers spotted a motorcycle light in the grass on the west side of New Jersey Road south of Glendale Street, the report said.
Strevels crashed the motorcycle, running into a tree, the report said.
He was not seriously injured, but Williams was thrown from the motorcycle and suffered a fractured pelvis and spine, the report said.
Strevels was arrested on charges of fleeing and eluding causing an accident, reckless driving causing damage, driving with a suspended license, and driving with a suspended or revoked license as a habitual offender.
He is being held in the Polk County Jail with no bail.
The report said Williams was initially taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center but was likely going to be taken to an Orlando hospital for surgery.
A nursing supervisor at LRMC said Williams, a student at George Jenkins High School in Lakeland, was not a patient Monday night.
Passenger, 16, is severely injured. Driver, 18, is jailed without bail.
By Amy L. Edwards
The Ledger
[email protected]
LAKELAND -- A 16-year-old motorcycle passenger suffered serious spinal and pelvic injuries Sunday when the driver of the bike crashed into a tree after fleeing from Lakeland police.
According to a Lakeland Police Department report, Krista C. Williams of Lakeland was riding on the back of a motorcycle driven by Brandon W. Strevels, 18, shortly before 1 a.m. in the New Jersey Road area when they crashed.
The report said officers first spotted Strevels, who has a suspended license and is considered a habitual traffic offender, speeding at Williamsburg Square.
Police initially didn't catch up to Strevels, the report said, but eventually found him at the Wood Lake Apartments on his motorcycle.
An officer turned on his patrol car lights and also yelled for Strevels to stop, the report said, but the 18-year-old refused and sped away.
Two officers tried to pursue Strevels, but the report said, his motorcycle was too fast and they lost sight of him.
The officers called off their pursuit but continued to look for the motorcycle, the report said.
One of the officers spotted a motorcycle light in the grass on the west side of New Jersey Road south of Glendale Street, the report said.
Strevels crashed the motorcycle, running into a tree, the report said.
He was not seriously injured, but Williams was thrown from the motorcycle and suffered a fractured pelvis and spine, the report said.
Strevels was arrested on charges of fleeing and eluding causing an accident, reckless driving causing damage, driving with a suspended license, and driving with a suspended or revoked license as a habitual offender.
He is being held in the Polk County Jail with no bail.
The report said Williams was initially taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center but was likely going to be taken to an Orlando hospital for surgery.
A nursing supervisor at LRMC said Williams, a student at George Jenkins High School in Lakeland, was not a patient Monday night.
