Reckless driving incident leads to pursuit and arrest in Clearwater

On August 18, 2024, at approximately 7:02 p.m., a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) trooper observed the driver of a black Mercedes driving recklessly near Gulf to Bay Boulevard. The vehicle was observed exiting a parking lot at 2815 Gulf to Bay Boulevard, crossing all eastbound lanes, and making a sharp left turn into the rightmost westbound lane at a high rate of speed. The vehicle's movements caused the tires to spin and the car to skid, endangering property and people nearby.

The police officer attempted to stop the traffic, but the driver of the Mercedes fled and began a short chase. The chase ended when the Mercedes crashed. After the crash, the driver, later identified as 25-year-old Carlos Simon Donu, attempted to deceive police by jumping into the back seat of the vehicle and denying that he was driving.

Photo of the damage caused by the vehicle hitting a wall. Photo courtesy of Violet Kilborn

Further investigation, including video footage from the patrol car, confirmed that Donu was the driver at the time of the incident. A review by the Florida Crime Information Center/National Crime Information Center (FCIC/NCIC) revealed that Donu did not have a valid driver's license and had had his license suspended several times in the past, including one for driving while license suspended or revoked (DWLSR) and several suspensions for failure to pay fines.