Yesterday morning, a high-speed car chase unfolded on southbound I-75 when two suspects in a stolen vehicle evaded Florida Highway Patrol officers, reaching speeds up to 140 mph. According to WFLA, the incident began at around 3:05 a.m. near mile marker 252 in Hillsborough County after a trooper spotted the suspects speeding in an Acura SUV confirmed stolen out of Pinellas County.
The chase escalated when the driver, identified by the Florida Highway patrol as 20-year-old Ciuntaye McCants, "was driving erratically" and accelerated away from the pursuing trooper. A dashcam video from the trooper’s vehicle, made public, captures the car exiting the freeway at Big Bend Road, then colliding with a barrier. "McCants tries to flee again, but loses control and rotates," as reported by WFLA.
Ultimately, a strategic maneuver by the trooper brought a dramatic end to the pursuit. FOX 13 News detailed that the PIT maneuver executed by the officer spun the SUV across the eastbound lanes of Big Bend Road, and it stopped on the shoulder. This move effectively disabled the suspects' vehicle and prevented further escape. The maneuver was caught on the released dashcam footage.
Ciuntaye McCants and his passenger, 19-year-old Jovan Williams, were arrested and charged with grand theft auto, as well as additional charges for McCants, including aggravated fleeing and eluding and driving with a suspended or revoked license. WTSP shared details from the FHP arrest report, which described the suspects' alleged efforts to reach 140 mph in their bid to evade troopers. All suspects involved were taken into custody and booked at the Hillsborough County Jail.
