ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The search is on for a third person who deputies said helped steal a car, then crashed it, striking an innocent driver.
Orange County Sheriff's investigators said the crash happened on Coast Line and Silver Star roads after the teenagers ran a stop sign just before 10 p.m. Wednesday.
Deputies said they believe the three were riding around in a stolen car that was used in a rash of robberies.
Two 16-year-olds were arrested and are being held in the Orange County Juvenile Detention Center.
Amari Mitchell limped into court Wednesday afternoon. He is charged with grand theft and possession of pot.
Laquan Carter is charged with resisting arrest.
According to investigators, an unmarked deputy's cruiser was tailing the trio Wednesday night when they sped off.
"Out of the blue, the suspects just went right through a stop sign and crashed into a civilian car. At no time did we ever turn our blue lights on or were we chasing that vehicle. He just did that on his own," said Lt. Paul Hopkins of the Orange County Sheriff's Office. "We still have one on the loose that we consider armed and dangerous."
The accident sent one person to the hospital.
Deputies arrested Mitchell on scene, but said Carter briefly escaped, before he was caught.
Witness Lovis Baker told WFTV one of the men arrested was bleeding and stumbling.
"We seen the dude just hauling tail, but he wasn't running that fast cause he had like a lot of blood. When he fell, he fell because he was so hurt and he spattered blood all over the floor and got up and ran," said Baker.
"Blood was dripping down from him. Me and my friend asked him, 'Are you OK?' And he said, 'Yeah, but I'm hurting.' We asked, 'Are you running from the police?' He said, 'Yes, I am,' And, he took off then from there," said witness Courtney Dillard.
Investigators said it's not clear who was driving the car. They said they found a gun and marijuana inside.
Carter's mother, who was in court, told Channel 9's Anthony DiLorenzo that her son wasn't the one who stole the car.
Mitchell and Carter are due back in court Friday afternoon. Investigators said they could face more charges.
Deputies said the driver of the other car was injured, but will be OK.
WFTV
