A white Toyota Corolla Cross went from 75 mph in a 50 mph zone to more than 120 mph before a Florida Highway Patrol trooper finally sent it into a ditch early Friday morning, according to an FHP arrest affidavit.
The pursuit did not end there. Troopers say the driver struck a raised median and traffic sign, continued east in the westbound lanes of State Road 60, then ran after the final PIT maneuver stopped the SUV.
The Sept. 18 chase began around 1:42 a.m. east of U.S. 301 in Hillsborough County. Trooper E. Cutino wrote that Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Deputy Liggins was stationary along the roadway when he used an agency-issued laser to clock the Corolla Cross at 75 mph in a 50 mph zone.
The driver, 31-year-old Malcolm Amonde Reid of Lakeland, initially moved toward the shoulder after the deputy activated his emergency lights and siren. Then, according to the affidavit, Reid accelerated. FHP later released video of the pursuit.
The Shoulder Didn’t Hold
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Cutino wrote that the Corolla reached more than 120 mph while traveling through several 45- and 50-mph zones.
That is deep into unusual territory for a Corolla Cross. In Car and Driver testing, an all-wheel-drive model needed 9.2 seconds to reach 60 mph and 17 seconds to finish the quarter-mile, crossing the line at 83 mph.
Getting into triple digits took considerably more patience. The Corolla Cross needed 39.9 seconds to reach 110 mph. Car and Driver estimated its top speed at 120 mph and described the crossover’s acceleration as “lazy.”
Even ordinary passing speeds were not especially urgent. The magazine measured six seconds for the crossover to accelerate from 50 to 70 mph.
FHP says Reid nevertheless had the Corolla beyond 120 mph while moving around other vehicles on State Road 60.
Cutino wrote that Reid came dangerously close to hitting other vehicles as the pursuit continued east.
The trooper attempted multiple PIT maneuvers.
Near Oak Hill Village Circle, Reid abruptly braked and attempted to turn. The Corolla struck a raised median and then a traffic sign.
The impact did not end the pursuit.
Reid continued east in the westbound lanes of State Road 60, Cutino wrote.
The trooper performed another PIT maneuver, rotating the Corolla off the roadway and into a ditch.
Then He Ran
Reid got out of the Corolla and ran east toward St. Cloud Avenue, according to the affidavit.
Cutino followed on foot.
The trooper wrote that Reid tripped but began trying to get back up and continue running. Cutino, who already had his Taser in his hand, deployed it.
The probes struck Reid in the thigh and back. Cutino then took him into custody.
Reid was transported by ambulance to Brandon Regional Hospital for possible injuries. The affidavit says he was discharged at 6:02 a.m. and taken to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office’s Orient Road Jail.
The Charges
FHP charged Reid with aggravated fleeing to elude, leaving the scene of an accident involving unattended property, resisting an officer without violence, and driving without a valid license.
The aggravated fleeing charge is listed as a second-degree felony.
HCSO’s booking record also lists charges of fleeing to elude at high speed, driving while his license was canceled, suspended or revoked as a habitual offender, and resisting an officer without violence.
Reid remained at Orient Road Jail without bond when the booking record was checked.
FHP’s Tampa account had a shorter message after releasing the pursuit footage: “Rule #1 = #DontRun & #JustStop.”
All parties are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.