St. Petersburg, FL – Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Troopers arrested a 31-year-old Orlando man, Jason Christopher Smalls, following a high-speed chase and crash on I-275 on the evening of September 20, 2024.
Troopers initially spotted a Ford Focus sedan driving recklessly on I-275 and attempted a traffic stop. Smalls fled southbound on I-275, prompting a chase. He exited at 38th Avenue North, where he lost control while passing traffic on the left shoulder of the ramp. The vehicle struck two roadside signs before colliding with an eastbound Jeep Grand Cherokee on 38th Avenue North.
After the crash, Smalls fled on foot but was quickly apprehended by Troopers. He was charged with reckless driving involving injury and property damage, fleeing and eluding, driving with a suspended license as a habitual traffic offender, and leaving the scene of a crash involving injury and property damage.
The occupants of the Jeep, a 42-year-old woman and a 17-year-old girl, both from St. Petersburg, sustained minor injuries and were transported to a local hospital for treatment.