PALMETTO, Fla. — A Monday night pursuit in Palmetto ended in tragedy after an 18-year-old driver in a stolen vehicle was killed in a violent crash, according to deputies. The incident unfolded on busy roadways and left another driver injured, while raising renewed concerns about the dangers of fleeing law enforcement.

Authorities said deputies received an alert around 8 p.m. on January 5 regarding a stolen Honda Accord out of Hillsborough County. Deputies later spotted the vehicle traveling on U.S. 41 and confirmed it had been reported stolen. Once the vehicle was identified, deputies began following it while additional units responded to the area.

According to officials, deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop in the 1000 block of U.S. 41. The driver, later identified as Michael Jerome Austin, 18, of Ruskin, initially slowed down. However, deputies said Austin then made a sudden U-turn at the intersection of 7th Street and U.S. 41 before turning east onto 17th Street East in an apparent attempt to flee.

Authorities said Austin quickly gained distance, traveling about a half-mile ahead of deputies. Moments later, in the 1800 block of 17th Street East, the stolen Honda struck the rear of another vehicle. The force of the impact caused the Honda to spin out of control and roll several times before coming to rest.

The second vehicle involved, driven by a 24-year-old woman, was pushed into the front yard of a nearby home. Fire rescue crews arrived and found Austin unconscious inside the overturned Honda. He was extricated from the vehicle and transported to a local hospital for emergency treatment.

Despite life-saving efforts, Austin was pronounced dead at the hospital at 9:12 p.m. The woman driving the other vehicle was also taken to the hospital, where she was treated for minor injuries and later released. Deputies said the investigation into the crash remains ongoing as they review the events leading up to the deadly collision.