Man crashes stolen pickup truck into Orange County home, troopers say

Carjacking suspect taken to hospital for injuries

ORLO VISTA, Fla. – A carjacking suspect crashed a stolen pickup truck into an Orange County house the day after Thanksgiving, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Troopers said the crash happened Friday at 6320 Vernon St. in Orlo Vista, west of Orlando. 

The suspect, 68-year-old Saintfort Octave, had just burglarized four vehicles in the area before stealing the green Ford F150 from the yard if a 50-year-old man, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office. 

Deputies said the victim tried to stop Octave from leaving with the truck, but was unsuccessful. 

Octave was driving recklessly down Balboa Drive before he lost control while making a turn, veered off the roadway and slammed into the front wall of the house on Vernon Street, troopers said.

13-year-old Regina Thelusma and three others were inside the home at the time.

"I was just laying in the back room when I heard an explosion," she said. "'Oh God am I going to die? Oh, I am going to die. This is it.' I start praying and then we didn't die."

Octave then fled the scene before he was found by Orange County deputies, according to the crash report.

"And a man that was shirtless, wearing blue shorts, his head was bleeding, he was limping came out the truck and ran away down there," Thelusma added. 

He was transported to a nearby hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

According to deputies, Octave faces carjacking charges and four counts of auto burglary.

Four people, including two 13-year-olds, were in the house at the time of the crash, according to family members. No one inside the house was injured, according to the report. The Red Cross is offering assistance to the family.

The crash is still being investigated, troopers said.

This is a developing story. Watch News 6 and stay with ClickOrlando.com for updates.
 


About the Authors:

Daniel started with WKMG-TV in 2000 and became the digital content manager in 2009. When he's not working on ClickOrlando.com, Daniel likes to head to the beach or find a sporting event nearby.

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