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Friday, March 29, 2024

Ocala man arrested after fleeing crash with injuries

John Anthony J. Avellanet
Johnanthony J. Avellanet

A 20-year-old Ocala man was arrested after fleeing the scene of a crash that followed a high-speed police chase.

Johnanthony J. Avellanet was charged with leaving the scene of an accident with injuries, reckless driving with injuries and driving without a license.

On Wednesday, an Ocala Police officer using radar measured Avellanet traveling 80 mph in a 45-mph zone on East Silver Springs Boulevard, and another officer picked up the chase. Avellanet was weaving from lane to lane, in and out of traffic, and the officer ended the chase for safety reasons, according to the police report.

Seconds later, the officer arrived at a crash scene where one of the vehicles was the gold Toyota Camry that was involved in the chase. The other vehicle was a maroon Chevrolet Impala. Witnesses said the driver of the Camry – later identified as Avellanet – fled on foot before the officer arrived, the report said.

A passenger in the Toyota had a busted lip, while the driver of the Chevrolet complained of pain in his legs and back. Both were taken to the hospital for their injuries. During the crash investigation, the officer received a call from the vehicle’s owner, who said Avellanet was her boyfriend and was the one driving the vehicle, according to the report.

The officer went to Avellanet’s home to speak with him and his girlfriend. Avellanet immediately started apologizing, but the officer cut him off to read his Miranda warning. Avellanet admitted he was driving the gold Toyota eastbound, although he didn’t know the street name. He also said he knew he was speeding, and that he fled from the crash scene because he was afraid. He said he did not remember the moment of impact or what he crashed into, the report said.

Avellanet complained of pain in his right shoulder and was taken to the hospital for treatment. After being released from the hospital, he was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he was still being held Monday on $6,000 bond. He will appear in Marion County Court on June 8.