Largo Police Chief Provides Fatal Crash Update and Discusses Recent Incidents

Fatal Saturday Crash Update

• 🚨 Largo Police Chief Mike Loux provided an update on a fatal crash that occurred on Saturday, May 10th, involving a Dodge Durango and a Kia Soul.
• 💔 The collision resulted in three fatalities: the driver of the Kia, Gail Price, and two juvenile passengers, Charlie Rivera and Jabari Solomon, who were ejected from the vehicle.
• ⚠️ Herbert Rivera, a front-seat passenger in the Kia, remains in critical condition, while occupants of the Durango were treated and released.
• 🔍 The investigation is ongoing, with details regarding speed, seatbelt use, and potential charges not yet disclosed.

Investigation Details and Roadway Safety

• 🚗 The crash occurred on Ridge Road when the Kia attempted a left turn and was struck by the Durango.
• 📊 Investigators are collecting witness testimony, video evidence from cameras and other vehicles, and crash data from both vehicles to reconstruct the incident.
• ⏳ A timeline of approximately two to three weeks is expected before charges or citations are determined.
• 🛣️ Ridge Road is described as a major thoroughfare, and traffic conditions at the time of the crash are being assessed.
• 🧪 Toxicology reports are conducted in fatalities if there are indications of intoxicants or narcotics, but no such indications are present in this case at this time.

Thursday Incident at Walmart

• 💥 Chief Loux also provided an update on an incident from Thursday, involving reckless driving in a Walmart parking lot.
• 🤕 A female driver, Lauren Lewis Howells, hit a mother and her six-year-old daughter, trapping the child under the vehicle for approximately 500 feet.
• 🏥 Both the mother and daughter are hospitalized, with the daughter in serious critical condition.
• ⚖️ Howells was arrested and faces potential additional charges, including felonies for leaving the scene with injuries and reckless driving.

Message on Driving Safety and Police Week

• ⚠️ Chief Loux urged drivers to operate vehicles safely, focus on the road, and put down their phones, emphasizing the importance of safe operation in both roadways and parking lots.
• 🎗️ He also acknowledged National Police Week, highlighting the daily challenges and emotional toll on officers responding to severe incidents like these.
• 💺 The importance of seatbelt and child safety seat usage was reinforced, noting that modern vehicles have alerts to encourage their use.