By Macollvie Jean-François
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
POMPANO BEACH, Fla. — An armed robbery suspect died and seven people were taken to the hospital, after a car loaded with five suspected robbers fleeing from deputies crashed into another vehicle carrying three innocent motorists, an official said Sunday.
Authorities are withholding the identities of and charges against those involved in the deadly 20-mile chase on Interstate 95, from Pompano Beach to Hollywood, said Broward Sheriff’ Office spokeswoman Veda Coleman-Wright.
About 7:40 p.m. Saturday night in Pompano Beach, a green Mercury Tracer pulled into a car detail business at 500 NE 25th Street. At least five suspects jumped out of the car, with weapons drawn, and robbed at least two men of cash and jewelry. They fled.
Their two victims followed the suspects, and called the Sheriff’s Office to say they saw the suspect near I-95. Deputies and a Sheriff’s helicopter followed the Mercury as it headed southbound on the highway and spotted it near the exit to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport.
Deputies tried to stop the Mercury near the Sheridan Street exit, but the suspects refused to comply. Instead, they got off at the Hollywood Boulevard exit, heading west.
They crashed into a white Ford Crown Victoria carrying three people at the intersection of North Park Road.
One suspect died at the scene. Paramedics took one man in the Crown Victoria to Memorial Regional Hospital with critical injuries. The car’s two other occupants and four suspects in the Mercury were also taken to Memorial Regional.
Coleman-Wright expects to release further details later today.
Copyright 2007 South Florida Sun-Sentinel