VERO BEACH — Police were searching for a suspect who they said ran a red light in a stolen vehicle, causing a multi-vehicle collision on northbound U.S. 1 Monday. The six-vehicle wreck left two people – including the driver wanted by police – with non-life threatening injuries.
Charges were expected to be filed in Monday’s crash. Vero Beach police spokesperson Master Officer Darrell Rivers said the suspect is known to officers; police did not publicly release the man’s name because of the active investigation.
The man had minor injuries and was taken to Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, where officers said he ran away before he could be admitted. Police later learned after the crash that the man stole his father’s vehicle and was driving with a suspended license, Rivers said.
This is the third major crash to occur in the county in less than a week.
The multi-vehicle wreck happened about 10 a.m. in the 3100 block of U.S. 1, just south of Aviation Boulevard, authorities said. Rivers said the man was driving a white 2020 Nissan Murano on southbound U.S. 1 when he ran a red light and crashed into a GMC truck.
The Nissan bounced off the truck, went into the northbound lanes, crashed into a dark-colored Honda and traveled over the vehicle. Rivers said the Nissan then landed on top of a white Mercedes.
Two other vehicles were also hit in the chain-reaction crash, Rivers said.
A woman in her 50’s was taken by ambulance to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute in Fort Pierce, Rivers said. Police were still searching for the man, who was expected to be charged with failing to yield at a red light, grand theft auto, and driving while license revoked, Rivers said.
Five other people at the scene refused treatment, Indian River County Department of Emergency Services Chief Tad Stone said.
The road was reopened by noon. The crash remains under investigation.
No further details were immediately available.
