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Teen arrested in connection with hit-and-run crash posted to YouTube

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. — A New Smyrna beach teenager has been arrested in connection with a hit-and-run crash captured on video and posted to YouTube.

Robert Kelley, 18, has been charged with two counts of leaving the scene of a crash with injuries.

Police found the video on YouTube one day after Kelley was accused of crashing into multiple vehicles on State Road 44.

The video shows a wild ride through the streets of New Smyrna Beach right up to the moment where the vehicle slams into another car.

Authorities said the driver sped off after hitting a car, and then crashed into two other cars.

The teenager’s car ended up in a ditch, and a father whose vehicle the teen may have hit, ran to help Kelley.

The YouTube video is titled, “Me driving like an idiot” and was uploaded while Kelley was in the hospital.

In the 4-minute video, techno music can be heard blaring in the background and the person behind the wheel weaves in and out of traffic, along the busy Volusia County road.

“Absolutely no regard for safety and well-being of other people on the road that day,” said Eugene Griffith with the New Smyrna Beach Police Department.

Police believe Kelley was recording the video as he was driving.

They were tipped off that it was uploaded to YouTube Tuesday, after Monday’s crashes.

“Watching the video, it appears to be an accurate account of that day,” Griffith said.

Eric Mercado and his two young daughters were three of the victims of the hit-and-run crashes.

“He goes to the side of us then he spins around, and then he lands,” said victim Chloie Mercado. “I am so grateful that I am safe.”

Eric Mercado ran to the erratic driver’s side.

“He kept asking me if this was real,” he said.

Channel 9’s Kristyn Caddell went by Kelley’s home and his stepsister said Kelley was in therapy.

Police said they expect to arrest Kelley this week.

They also believe alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.

The video was removed from YouTube.