WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – A Groveland man is facing felony charges after a 19-year-old Winter Garden man was killed in a crash early Monday.
Deputies said Darius Wilvenson, 23, ran a red light and fled Lake County deputies before the crash.
Carlos Sanchez Santiago died in the crash, which was reported at 1:27 a.m. on West Colonial Drive at Oakland Avenue in Oakland.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a two-door Ford, being driven by Wilvenson, was headed east on Colonial Drive and made a left turn onto Oakland Avenue. Wilvenson's car traveled into the westbound lanes of Colonial Drive and crashed into Santiago's two-door Nissan, troopers said.
Santiago was pronounced dead at the scene, troopers said.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office said Wilvenson was spotted early Monday running a red light at U.S. Highway 27 and Washington Street in Minneola.
"The deputy pursued this subject at what was, like, 1:15 in the morning, when he saw him blow through the red light. I'll tell you, at that time of night, in the early-morning hours, it's not uncommon for deputies to come across drunk drivers out there," Lt. John Herrell, of the Lake County Sheriff's Office, said.
A deputy tried to pull over Wilvenson's car twice. The deputy reported that Wilvenson tried to run him over during the second attempt to make a traffic stop. Wilvenson then drove into Orange County, officials said.
The deputy stopped pursuing Wilvenson at the Orange County line, and Wilvenson's vehicle crashed about a half-mile later, the Lake County Sheriff's Office said.
"They have to constantly be evaluating the circumstances of the pursuit and if at any time the speeds get to a point where it outweighs the importance of the offense that they are believed to have committed, then the deputy needs to step back and I believe that's what he was doing at that point." Herrell said.
Deputies said Wilvenson was armed with a handgun, driving on a suspended license and had active warrants for his arrest on traffic charges. Deputies said three different driver's licenses were found, all with Wilvenson's picture but each showing a different name.
Wilvenson was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center, but he was not seriously injured, according to troopers.
Wilvenson faces charges of homicide, homicide negligent manslaughter and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license resulting in a crash with death.
Santiago's family has set up an online funding page to help with funeral expenses. The funeral will begin at 1 p.m. Friday with visitation from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Winter Oak Funeral Home & Cremations in Winter Garden.