Suspect behind three traffic crashes caught on foot

DELTONA, Fla. (FOX 35 WOFL) - The Volusia County Sheriff's Office says that a driver who fled from a crash in Deltona and caused two more crashes before taking off running was arrested last night after deputies caught up with him about a mile away.

They went on to say that two people were taken to the hospital with injuries after the series of crashes at DeBary Avenue and Main Street. Luckily, their injuries were non-life-threatening. 

Deputies say they responded to the crashes around 8 p.m. as callers reported the driver who caused them, later identified as 23-year-old Julius Naval Bennett, was running west on DeBary Avenue.

The sheriff's office reports that witnesses say he first rear-ended a red Toyota minivan, causing major damage to the back end. Bennett fled that crash by driving over the raised median into oncoming traffic. He headed west in the eastbound lanes and then crashed into a silver Mazda 6. He fled that crash and collided head-on with a black Chevrolet Malibu. At that point, his vehicle was disabled and he got out.

The other crash victims reportedly told deputies they tried to render aid to Bennett, but he said: “F*** this, I hope you die,” and took off running. Witnesses called in updates on where he was headed and soon, Bennett was in custody.

Deputies say that Bennett was taken to the hospital for evaluation because he complained of a shoulder injury. However, the hospital confirmed he was not injured. Once released, he was taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail on two counts of leaving the scene of a crash with injury, one count of leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, driving with a suspended license and violating his probation for burglary.

He was being held without bond on the violation of probation charge; his bond for Thursday’s charges was set at $6,000.