Florida

Trouble on the road? Here are 12 driving dramas that happened in Florida

Stories by Miami Herald journalists, with AI summarization

Driving in Florida can be full of drama.

There are rules, of course, regarding texting and road rage. But there were plenty of incidents and controversies in 2024.

The tumult included a driver recording himself standing through a sunroof while speeding, and another instance of a truck driver engaging in a rolling gunfight on a highway.

Legal repercussions also span charges for DUI manslaughter, as seen in the tragic case of a toddler killed by an intoxicated driver.

These incidents show heightened law enforcement and evolving regulations aimed at curbing reckless behavior on Florida roads.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

Police lights on first responder vehicles.

NO. 1: DRIVER ON WRONG SIDE OF ROAD SLAMS HEAD-ON INTO SUV, KILLING THREE, FLORIDA COPS SAY

2 of the SUV’s passengers were hospitalized after the crash, state troopers said. | Published January 5, 2024 | Read Full Story by Makiya Seminera

A man sexually battered a 17-year-old girl near 1400 S. Flamingo Rd. on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024, Pembroke Pines police said.

NO. 2: 20-YEAR-OLD CLOCKED AT 199 MPH IN DAD’S CAMARO WITH CAMERA IN WINDOW, FLORIDA COPS SAY

The camera was for Instagram videos, officials say. | Published January 23, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mark Price

A man accused of sexually assaulting an international student in Tampa met her while he was driving for Uber, a Florida sheriff’s office says.

NO. 3: UBER DRIVER TRIES TO SELL SHROOMS TO RIDERS HE DIDN’T KNOW WERE COPS, FLORIDA DEPUTIES SAY

The passengers, narcotics investigators, were in town for a statewide law enforcement conference, the sheriff’s office said. | Published February 26, 2024 | Read Full Story by Irene Wright

A Florida sheriff was in the right place at the right time to help stop an accused intoxicated driver fleeing from a traffic stop, the sheriff’s office said.

NO. 4: ERRATIC DRIVER FLEES TRAFFIC STOP — BUT CAN’T EVADE SHARP-EYED SHERIFF, FLORIDA COPS SAY

“It’s like I used to do this for a living,” the sheriff told news outlets. | Published March 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by Irene Wright

Video released by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office shows one driver pulled out a gun and began firing as the other drive drove past, officials said.

NO. 5: ROAD RAGE BETWEEN TRUCKERS ERUPTS INTO ROLLING GUNFIGHT ON FLORIDA HIGHWAY, COPS SAY

It started with a flying water bottle, cops say. | Published March 7, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mark Price

The suspect was pulled over near the intersection of US 27 and Hooks Street in Clermont, police said.

NO. 6: SPEEDING DRIVER WAS RECORDING HIMSELF STANDING THROUGH CAR’S SUNROOF, FLORIDA COPS SAY

He was out on bond at the time, police say. | Published April 4, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mark Price

Cape Coral police say the head broke off the club when the driver used it to break out a car window.

NO. 7: DRIVER WIELDING GOLF CLUB LIKE SWORD GOES ON RAMPAGE AT INTERSECTION, FLORIDA COPS SAY

Charges include assault with a deadly weapon, police say. | Published June 11, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mark Price

A Florida driver ignored a sheriff’s deputy and tried to pump gas in her SUV during a traffic stop in Marion County, officials say.

NO. 8: DRIVER ‘OBLIVIOUS’ TO TRAFFIC STOP IGNORES DEPUTY, TRIES PUMPING GAS, FLORIDA COPS SAY

She said it was too dark to see the blue lights at 3:30 a.m., video shows. | Published July 10, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mark Price

Blue Flash Light Of Police Car Against Red Fire Truck

NO. 9: 19-YEAR-OLD KILLS TODDLER RIDING TRICYCLE AS PARENTS YELL TO SLOW DOWN, FLORIDA COPS SAY

He’s charged with DUI manslaughter. | Published September 3, 2024 | Read Full Story by Olivia Lloyd

This video screengrab shows the seconds before a driver crashed head-on into a Brevard County Sheriff’s Deputy on US 1 in Florida, officials say.

NO. 10: DUI SUSPECT WITHOUT LICENSE RAMS DEPUTY WHILE DRIVING WRONG WAY, FLORIDA SHERIFF SAYS

The deputy is expected to recover, officials say. | Published September 11, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mark Price

City of Miami Beach police officers stand watch along Ocean Drive late afternoon during spring break on Miami Beach, Florida on Friday, March 8, 2024.

NO. 11: CAN DRIVERS DO THAT ON THE ROAD? WHAT FLORIDA LAW SAYS ABOUT TEXTING, EATING, ROAD RAGE

Florida drivers face rules and restrictions in traffic. | Published September 25, 2024 | Read Full Story

Police lights on first responder vehicles.

NO. 12: DRIVER REAR-ENDS TRUCK ON I-95, KILLING 15-YEAR-OLD, THEN RUNS AWAY, FLORIDA COPS SAY

Law enforcement has arrested the driver accused of fleeing on foot. | Published October 14, 2024 | Read Full Story by Olivia Lloyd

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.