A 26-year-old man was charged Saturday morning with DUI after leading troopers on a chase from Pasco County to Pinellas County.
- Man charged with DUI after leading FHP on a chase
- Chase started around 2:30 a.m. in Pasco, ended in Pinellas
- Man arrested and charged after losing control of vehicle, crashing
Around 2:30 a.m. the Florida Highway Patrol attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a suspected DUI driver on US-19 in Holiday.
The 2012 white Nissan Maximum fled when troopers approached the driver's side of the vehicle, according to the report. Troopers then pursued the vehicle on US-19 southbound and attempted to PIT the vehicle, which caused the vehicle's right rear tire to become disabled.
The vehicle continued to travel southbound at a high rate of speed on its rim, heading into Pinellas County.
After passing the intersection of US-19 and Tarpon Avenue, troopers said the driver lost control of the vehicle and traveled into the northbound lanes. The vehicle then left the roadway and collided with a light pole and railing before overturning.
The driver, Bruce Kirkland, 26, and his passenger, Kendayshia Marshall, 27, were treated for injuries at Bayonet Medical Center in Pasco County.
Troopers also found 32.5 pills of Xanax and 8 pills of alprazolam in the vehicle.
Kirkland was charged with DUI involving property damage or personal injury, aggravated fleeing to elude at high speeds, aggravated fleeing to elude involving property damage, aggravated fleeing to elude with injury, and possession of controlled substance without a prescription.
Bruce Kirkland, 26, was arrested Saturday morning for DUI after leading troopers on a chase from Pasco County to Pinellas County. (Pasco County Sheriff's Office)