Published on Monday, May 29, 2006
in the St. Petersburg Times

Vehicular rampage injures six

MANGO - Instead of pulling over for a Florida Highway Patrol trooper to face a speeding violation, an Orlando man rammed the trooper's car and took off, causing a five-car accident Sunday.

Then, he took off again.

Florida Highway Patrol officials said 22-year-old Joshua Rosario is still at large.

Just after noon, a trooper clocked Rosario at a high speed on Interstate 4 and attempted to pull him over. But Rosario took off.

The trooper didn't chase him.

When Rosario stopped in a residential area on County Road 579 north of Interstate 4, an FHP helicopter told the trooper where Rosario was, so the trooper attempted another stop.

Rosario rammed the patrol car and took off along CR 579.

The three passengers in his car begged him to stop, said FHP Trooper Larry Coggins. But Rosario told them he didn't want to face probation violation charges stemming from a 2003 grand theft motor vehicle charge.

Then he went through a red light at U.S. 92.

His Cadillac Escalade hit a Chevrolet sport utility vehicle first. The vehicle was totaled, and the flying debris hit a Pontiac Grand Prix. Rosario continued and hit a Ford F-150 pickup and a Nissan Xterra SUV on CR 579.

Then, Rosario took off on foot, Coggins said.

Six people, including a baby and a 6-year-old, were taken to Tampa General and Brandon hospitals with minor injuries.

The estimated damage on all of the cars adds up to more than $24,000.

Coggins said the crash easily could have been avoided.

"Had he just pulled over, he was facing a speeding ticket and maybe he would've gone to jail if indeed it was a criminal offense. He could've bonded out and made it home before I was home," Coggins said. "He made a minor situation bad."