Teen Driver Dies After Stolen Vehicle Crash in Palmetto
An 18-year-old driver died Monday night after crashing a stolen vehicle in Palmetto following a brief pursuit by deputies, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies received an alert around 8 p.m. Jan. 5 regarding a stolen vehicle reported out of Hillsborough County. Authorities later located the stolen Honda Accord traveling along U.S. 41 and confirmed the vehicle’s status before beginning to follow it.
After additional units arrived, deputies attempted a traffic stop in the 1000 block of U.S. 41. Investigators said the driver initially slowed but then made a U-turn at 7th Street and U.S. 41 before turning east onto 17th Street East. The driver, identified as Michael Jerome Austin, 18, of Ruskin, was approximately a half-mile ahead of deputies when the crash occurred.
Authorities said Austin struck the rear of another vehicle in the 1800 block of 17th Street East. The collision caused the Honda Accord to spin out of control and roll several times. The second vehicle left the roadway and came to rest in the front yard of a nearby residence.
Fire rescue personnel extricated Austin from the vehicle after finding him unconscious at the scene. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:12 p.m.
The driver of the other vehicle, a 24-year-old woman, was taken to the hospital and treated for minor injuries. The incident remains under investigation by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
