Local

Man carjacks 3 women, leads cops on chase before 4-car crash on OBT

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Authorities continue to search for a man they said carjacked three women and then caused a multi-vehicle crash while fleeing from deputies in Orange County.

The crash, which injured six people, happened on South Orange Blossom Trail and Lancaster Road about 6:45 p.m. Thursday, Orange County Fire Rescue said.

Deputies said a man was stealing from the Gap at Florida Mall when loss prevention officers tried to stop him.


Photos: Carjacking suspect causes 4-car crash on OBT


He fled to the parking lot, where he carjacked an Xterra SUV that had three women inside. The man drove off but was pulled over in front of a nearby Target, where a deputy noticed commotion inside the SUV.

“The driver was thrown out of the driver’s door. A female passenger got out on her own out of the passenger door,” said Lt. Mike Crabb, of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

While two women were able to get out, a third passenger was stuck in the SUV, authorities said.

"She was stuck in the vehicle and couldn't get out, and he left with her in the vehicle," said Crabb.

The parking lot where the carjacker forced the driver out of the vehicle is lined with surveillance cameras, but deputies aren't releasing the video because they believe it could harm their investigation.

Deputies began chasing the car, which hit four other cars, injuring six people.

“The car fled and the deputy engaged in a pursuit of that vehicle for the carjacking, and it crashed here at Lancaster and Orange Blossom Trail,” Crabb said.

After the crash, the man ran from the SUV and remains at large.

Southbound OBT was closed for several hours.

The woman in the SUV was taken to the hospital. Officials have not released her condition or the conditions of the people injured in the crash.

Authorities gave a vague description of the suspect, only saying that is a dark-skinned man in his 20s who stands about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs roughly 200 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to contact authorities.