OPA-LOCKA, FLA. (WSVN) - A police chase ended with a crash and one subject in custody, Wednesday morning, in Opa-locka.
Police continue to investigate the scene after a car, driving westbound on State Road 9, suddenly made a U-turn, drove the wrong direction and crashed head on into an 18-wheeler.
7’s Skyforce HD flew over the scene shortly after the crash occurred. According to police, the driver of the car is a robbery suspect who was on the run from the law.
“The driver fled from officers, lost control, went onto oncoming traffic and crashed into that semi-truck,” said Miami Police Officer Kenia Fallat.
The driver is allegedly suspected in a Downtown Miami jewelry store robbery that occurred on Oct. 29. Police later identified him as 29-year-old Jessie Wooden Jr.
According to officials, the duo tied up the owner before grabbing $300,000 worth of jewelry and fleeing the scene.
Police said Wodden Jr. was caught on the store’s surveillance video wearing a red hoodie.
After he was spotted Wednesday morning, Miami Police said that suspect took off running and ultimately fled in the car. A police chase then ensued. That chase began at Northwest 95th and 12th Avenue, Miami Police said. Officials said the driver even rammed a police cruiser during the chase.
The car with the subjects inside crashed into the tractor-trailer near State Road 9 and Northwest 19th Avenue. The driver of the 18-wheeler explained that he didn’t even see the car coming at him.
Police found one woman trapped inside the vehicle after the crash.
Police took one subject into custody and transported a second person to a nearby hospital in critical condition.
One witness was on his front porch, at around 11 a.m., just before the crash occurred. “Yeah, I seen the whole thing. I was on my porch,” said the witness who wished to be identified as Mr. Whinche.
“He was driving pretty fast. They were chasing him going down that way, and he must’ve made a U-turn somewhere down there. He came back, trying to go this way, and he made another U-turn when the tractor-trailer was trying to stop but couldn’t stop because of that speed, and he hit ’em, and then they draw guns on the guy,” Whinche said. “Then, they dragged him out of the [expletive] car.”
Police said Wooden Jr. is facing state and federal charges.
Police are still looking for the second suspect that was at the scene of the robbery, back in October. “Detectives can confirm that the man that was seen in that video with the red hood is indeed the driver that was behind the wheel of this vehicle,” Fallat said.
If you have any information that can help police, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $1,000 reward.
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