PLANT CITY, Fla. — A pedestrian was struck and killed by a suspect vehicle in Plant City after a police pursuit Friday morning.
- Emmanuel Sandoval, 30, still at large
- Police arrested 2 others who were inside vehicle
- Armando Lopez, 43, killed while walking to work
The incident started at about 7:15 a.m. when police were trying to serve a warrant to Emmanuel Sandoval, 30, at the Plantation at Walden Lakes Apartment complex located at 1400 Plantation Drive. According to investigators, when Sandoval spotted the officers on scene, he jumped into a vehicle driven by Daniel Castro, 26, which then fled the scene.
Officials said the vehicle led police on a short pursuit. They made at least one attempt at a traffic stop, but due to Castro's reckless driving, police canceled the pursuit.
Police said Castro continued to drive recklessly, however. While driving at a high rate of speed along Sammonds Road, the vehicle entered into a sharp right hand turn and Castro lost control of the car.
At that moment the car struck Armando Lopez, 43, of Plant City, near 2705 Sammonds Road. Police said Lopez was walking to work at Commercial Concrete Products. Lopez died at the scene.
When police caught up with the vehicle, they saw Sandoval, Castro, and a third individual fleeing the scene on foot. Castro and the third person, Sierra Vickery, 25, were caught and arrested, while Sandoval remains at large.
Castro faces a number of charges, including vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of a fatal crash, and aggravated fleeing to elude law enforcement. Vickery's arrest came in connection with a warrant charge unrelated to the pursuit and its aftermath.
The incident remains under investigation.