On Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at 10:46 PM, FHP Troopers responded to a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office request for assistance concerning a stolen Ford Mustang.
The driver, identified as 22-year-old Leosvany Arias Roman of Hialeah, Florida, engaged in a series of incidents on I-275.
On Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at approximately 10:20 p.m., HCSO Auto Theft Task Force members observed Leosvany Arias Roman, 22, while in the county driving a white Ford Mustang reported stolen by the Tampa Police Department. In an attempt to arrest Roman, deputies approached him after he parked in front of a business located at 2919 West Columbus Drive within city limits. Starting the car up, he made the wrong decision to ram two HCSO vehicles and fled the area.
“This criminal had no regard for human life. Our deputies, facing danger, had to jump out of the way of a man they feared would run them over to get away,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “The additional charges he faces will ensure the only road he’s ever on again is the one that leads straight to jail.”
Leosvany Arias Roman is facing charges from HCSO for his crimes in Hillsborough County. His driver’s license photo is attached.
A second suspect, Mohammed Ali Pujol, 30, sitting in a silver Mercedes sedan parked next to the white Mustang, placed his vehicle into drive and sped towards an HCSO deputy who managed to jump out of the way. Tampa Police Officers assisted by attempting a traffic stop and ultimately used stop sticks on the 3300 block of North Nebraska Avenue and arrested Pujol. He, too, is facing several felony charges from HCSO for his crimes.
After ramming an HCSO patrol vehicle and colliding with an FHP vehicle on the Skyway Bridge, the Mustang traveled northbound in the southbound lanes. Radio communications indicated the driver was traveling at speeds over 140mph.
Near the 13 Milepost, a fatal head-on collision occurred with a Dodge Caravan, resulting in the death of the Uber driver (33-year-old male from Bradenton, Florida) and one passenger (52-year-old male from Columbiana, Ohio). Two other passengers, a 51-year-old female and a 24-year-old male, both of them from Ohio, sustained serious injuries.
The 51-year-old female passenger died overnight from her injuries.
The Mustang’s driver also sustained serious injuries. The 27-year-old FHP Trooper involved suffered minor injuries.
The driver, Leosvany Arias Roman, faces charges including Felony 1st degree Murder, Vehicular Homicide, Aggravated Fleeing & Eluding Involving Death, Driving While License Suspended Involving Death, and Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer.
Additional charges pending due to the death of the third victim.
The incident led to the closure of southbound I-275 until 6:40 a.m. on Thursday, December 7, 2023.