Jerell Carr, a 35-year-old man from Tampa, was arrested after leading Florida Highway Patrol on a high-speed chase that ended in a six-vehicle crash in Lakeland. FOX 13 News reported that the pursuit began when a trooper tried to stop Carr for driving 61 MPH in a 45 MPH zone. Carr then fled, reaching speeds over 100 MPH.
The chase included driving against traffic and on the sidewalk before Carr’s vehicle collided with a dump truck and other cars at the intersection of CR-540A and Carter Road. Upon arrest, Carr reportedly said he expected to face a long jail sentence due to drugs in his vehicle, WESH reported.
Authorities recovered 52.6 grams of cocaine, 135.2 grams of cannabis, and 20.2 grams of fentanyl from Carr’s car, amounts considered sufficient for trafficking charges. He faces multiple charges, including drug trafficking and reckless driving. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the arrest, according to the Tampa Bay 28.
Carr has a prior criminal history, including a release from prison in June 2025 for amphetamine trafficking, and previous charges dating back to 2010, many related to drugs and probation violations.
