The Tampa Police Department said officers were not pursuing him at the time of the crash.

TAMPA – A man died early this morning (Feb. 27) when he crashed into two trees shortly after fleeing from a traffic stop, the Tampa Police Department said.

Keith B. Booker, 34, died at the scene.

The crash happened about 12:36 a.m. in the 4200 block of E Chelsea Street. Police said they tried to pull over a gray Mercedes-Benz at N 40th Street and E Chelsea Street after it failed to stop at a stop sign.

The officers said they turned on the emergency equipment lights. The driver of the Mercedes responded by turning off his headlights and fleeing at a high rate of speed, heading eastbound on E Chelsea. The officers deactivated their emergency equipment and backed off from the Mercedes, as is TPD policy. The officers headed northbound on N 42nd Street, out of line of sight of the fleeing vehicle.

Minutes later, the officers were alerted to a crash at the Myrtle Hill Cemetery a few blocks away. Arriving at the scene of the crash, the officers discovered the crash involved a gray Mercedes-Benz, which they later determined was the same vehicle that fled from the traffic stop minutes earlier.

The driver, later identified as Mr. Booker, was found deceased inside the Mercedes.

Police said the investigation found the car was traveling at a high rate of speed when it veered off the roadway and struck two trees.

Tampa Police | Traffic Crash | Keith B. Booker | Fatal Crash | Traffic Death | Tampabay News

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