WINTER PARK, Fla. — Winter Park police said they are searching for an armed robber Wednesday who fled police and later crashed near a Casselberry Walmart.
Police said a man robbed a chiropractor Tuesday afternoon on Orlando Avenue in Maitland. He then fled in a vehicle and was located shortly thereafter by a Winter Park police officer, who tried to pull him over, police said.
Police said the driver fled north on North Lakemont Avenue. He then crashed into another vehicle behind the Walmart on State Road 436 in Casselberry, police said.
Channel 9 spoke with Frank Lovre, the father of the crash victims.
“I call my wife, no answer. I call my daughter, no answer. Finally, I call my wife's number again and a Winter Park police officer answered the phone, and that's how I found out,” Lovre said.
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“I heard a police car with a siren going, and then I saw a third car flying and then all I heard was a crash,” neighbor Bob Paugh said.
Kim Lovre, 52, and Leia Lovre, 16, were taken to a hospital in critical condition, Florida Highway Patrol said.
“I'm driving down Tuskawilla Road and my son says, ‘look over there,’ and I look and there's cops everywhere and my wife's car is mangled on the side of the road,” he said.
Leia suffered a pelvic fracture, a fractured vertebra in her neck and fractured ribs. Kim suffered injuries to her ribs and bruised lungs.
“Anger. Extreme anger. Innocent people have to suffer, like, they're suffering now, and family members have to deal with this situation over someone who doesn’t care that they did this to my family,” Frank Lovre said.
Casselberry and Winter Park police, as well as the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office and FHP, are assisting in the investigation.
As of Wednesday afternoon, $2,000 has been raised through a GoFundMe account to pay for the victims' medical expenses. Click here for more details.
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