August 11, 2020
By: Staff Report
LAKELAND, Fla.- The Lakeland Police Department is continuing to investigate traffic crash that occurred during the early morning hours after the driver of a stolen vehicle collided with another car near the 1000 block of George Jenkins Boulevard.
On August 10, 2020, shortly before midnight, Officer Travis Miller attempted to pull over a vehicle that was confirmed as stolen out of Lake Hamilton, FL. The vehicle, an Infinity EX35 SUV, was spotted traveling south on Martin Luther King Boulevard. After Officer Miller activated his lights and sirens, the driver, later identified as 21-year-old Stephen Marra, began fleeing in the vehicle. An approved pursuit was initiated, and Officer Miller continued at a safe distance behind the stolen SUV. During the incident, a 29-year-old passenger in the stolen vehicle, later identified as Demarcus Evans, was able to exit the SUV by rolling out the door of the vehicle as it slowed.
The Infinity continued traveling eastbound on George Jenkins Boulevard, approaching the intersection of Sloan Avenue. As the Infinity passed into the intersection, it crossed into the westbound lanes of travel of George Jenkins Boulevard while continuing eastbound. Officer Miller notified dispatch and supervision, slowed down, and remained in the eastbound lanes of travel of George Jenkins Boulevard. As the Infinity was traveling uphill and negotiating the road’s curve, a white Nissan Altima was westbound in the inside lane of travel of George Jenkins Boulevard. As the Infinity was in the apex of the curve, it collided with the Nissan in a near head-on collision.
Officer Miller immediately notified dispatch of the traffic crash and began assisting both drivers.
Additional Uniform Patrol Officers, Polk County Fire Rescue, and the Lakeland Fire Department arrived on scene and began to provide life-saving measures. Marra was the sole occupant of the stolen vehicle at the time of the crash. The Nissan Ultima was driven by a 19 year-old-female who had her 10-month-old infant in the back seat. The infant was in a car seat. All three occupants of the vehicles were transported to Lakeland Regional Health with serious bodily injuries. Since arriving at Lakeland Regional Health, both Marra and the 10-month-old infant were airlifted to a Tampa hospital. An update on their conditions is not known at this time. The name of the driver of the Nissan Ultima or the infant passenger will not be released in accordance with Marsy’s Law.
The roadway was shut down for approximately five hours and processed for the follow-up investigation. If anyone has any additional information regarding the crash, please contact Traffic Investigator Tyler Anderson at 863.834.2553 or tyler.anderson@lakelandgov.net. This investigation is still ongoing at this time.
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