A 19-year-old Ocklawaha woman was arrested after leading a Marion County sheriff’s deputy on a high-speed chase in a stolen car.
Brianna Nichole Mason, of 6951 SE Highway 42, was charged with fleeing with disregard of safety to persons or property, grand theft of a motor vehicle, and operating a motor vehicle without a valid license after the chase, which happened Tuesday night.
The deputy was traveling eastbound on Highway 25 approaching Highway 464 when he observed a silver Mercury traveling at a high speed in the other direction. The deputy turned around and began following the Mercury, which was traveling an estimated 80 mph in a 55-mph zone, according to the sheriff’s office report.
The vehicle began increasing speed and traveling recklessly, trying to turn southbound onto 115th Avenue but losing control and going into a ditch. The deputy tried to conduct a traffic stop, but the vehicle resumed traveling on 115th Avenue and then westbound on 132nd Road. The deputy relayed the vehicle’s tag number to dispatch and was told it was stolen out of Leesburg, the report said.
The vehicle traveled through multiple cut-through roads, where two black male passengers exited the vehicle. The vehicle traveled southbound on 100th Avenue at speeds reaching up to 85 mph while the deputy pursued with lights and sirens activated, according to the report.
The vehicle finally came to a stop on SE 140th Place and Mason surrendered. She said she ran because she was told to by the other occupants of the vehicle. She said didn’t know who they were, and that she didn’t know who the vehicle belongs to or that it was stolen, the report said.
Mason was taken to the Marion County Jail, where she’s being held on $15,500 bond. She’s scheduled to appear in Marion County Jail on Oct. 22.