Man arrested in connection to crash that FHP says involved racing

Florida Highway Patrol image.

A 23-year-old Ocala man was arrested Nov. 27 by the Florida Highway Patrol on charges including two felonies in connection with a three-car crash and leaving the scene of a crash with serious injuries on west State Road 200 on Nov. 18, that the agency says involved two vehicles racing.

Jacob Steven Michael Carmack was arrested and booked on felony charges of reckless driving that resulted in serious bodily injury to another and in a crash with injuries, “failure to remain on scene of a crash which resulted in the serious bodily injury to another,” according to an FHP press release.

Carmack is also charged with a count of misdemeanor racing on highways, the press release stated. According to Marion County Jail records, his total bond was set at $21,000 and he was released the same day he was booked.

The press release stated the crash occurred as a Ford Mustang, driven by Carmack, and a Chevrolet Corvette were headed west on SR 200 traveling at a “high rate of speed, making multiple lane changes (and) driving recklessly for the purpose of racing.”

Around Southwest 80th Street, the Corvette struck a Toyota Prius and the Corvette left the roadway and hit a utility pole and tree. The Corvette driver suffered serious injuries, according to the FHP.

“The driver of the Ford Mustang briefly parked, concealing his car in a local business parking lot. At the same time, he checked the injury status of the driver of the Corvette, who had been ejected, before fleeing the scene. The driver of the Corvette, a 38-year-old male from Ocala, was seriously injured,” the press release stated.

The FHP had issued an appeal to the public to identify the driver of the Mustang. Tips from the public were “critical” to the investigation and identifying the suspect, the press release indicated.

The FHP also released information about the dangers and number of citations related to street racing, which can be found at [email protected]