NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — A driver who tried to outrun deputies ended up stopped in his tracks after a dangerous chase through North Fort Myers.
According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were patrolling Orange Grove Boulevard on Sunday, assisting the Fort Myers Police Department with locating a vehicle that fled from a traffic stop into their jurisdiction.
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As the vehicle approached the intersection of Orange Grove Boulevard and Pondella Road, the driver, later identified as Zachary Murray, drove around a parked vehicle, through the red light and nearly struck a truck, according to Sheriff Carmine Marceno.
When deputies attempted a traffic stop, Murray accelerated, lost traction and nearly struck another vehicle. Murray continued to drive over the median and into oncoming traffic, LCSO said.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies safely conducted a PIT maneuver to prevent Murray from continuing to drive recklessly and potentially cause a deadly crash.
See the full video of the arrest below:
Deputies made contact with Murray and said they located trafficking amounts of cocaine, in addition to other drugs inside the vehicle.
Murray was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, trafficking in cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, fleeing and eluding and reckless driving.
The sheriff’s office says Murray has an extensive criminal history, including drug charges, resisting an officer, grand theft and battery.