He Killed a 20-Year-Old in a Crash and Ran Away

Added: 2026-05-17

[00:00:00]I was in front of him, but I seen it in my rearview mirror.

[00:00:02]>> Okay.

[00:00:05]>> That black car on the roadway is also involved. There's a black male driver over there who I got to talk to. I I need to go to the hospital.

[00:00:12]>> Were you in the car with him?

[00:00:13]>> Do you mind if I search just to make sure he's not there?

[00:00:18]>> Sunday, July 14th, 2024. Panelis County, Florida. What begins as a high-speed crash at a busy urban intersection quickly stops being only an accident when the driver makes a decision that changes the course of the entire case.

[00:00:33]Within moments, a vehicle loses control, rolls over multiple times, and leaves one of its occupants in critical condition. But while witnesses are still trying to process what they've just seen, a second event is already unfolding. Less visible, but far more consequential for the investigation.

[00:00:49]Someone decides to leave. I'm Tyler and this is your daily dose of crime.

[00:00:56]>> You guys see what happened?

[00:00:57]>> Flipped over about four or five times. I don't see it happen beforehand.

[00:01:00]>> Yeah, I was in front of him, but I seen it in my rearview mirror.

[00:01:03]>> Okay. Was he going real fast or what happened? Do we know?

[00:01:06]>> I couldn't even tell how fast he was going.

[00:01:07]>> Is he going this way or coming this way?

[00:01:09]>> He's coming this way.

[00:01:10]>> This way. Okay.

[00:01:11]>> All right.

[00:01:24]Yeah. 24 get a trauma alert.

[00:01:38]Copy a tag. It's a Zulu 22 Golf Romeo November for a blue Toyota Pearl.

[00:01:56]>> Hey, did you guys see what happened at all?

[00:01:59]>> Afterwards, you guys know who this is or >> Okay.

[00:02:08]They say they say his mama supposed to be coming.

[00:02:10]>> Mom's coming. Okay.

[00:02:14]>> Okay.

[00:02:15]>> That's her boy.

[00:02:32]>> We We got a call saying there was somebody driving this vehicle and they got ran over. car.

[00:02:39]>> Black cars involved, too.

[00:02:40]>> Yeah.

[00:02:40]>> Yeah. That's the car. Yeah, that's the car here.

[00:02:42]>> Who was driving that one?

[00:02:44]>> They ran off.

[00:02:46]>> No, they down there.

[00:02:47]>> Oh, over there. Okay.

[00:02:48]>> Black older black dude down there.

[00:02:51]>> You right down here. Right there.

[00:02:53]>> Hey, the unit's at 2213. That black car on the roadway is also involved. There's a black male driver over there.

[00:03:01]Looks like we might have another one.

[00:03:06]So just just the two cars, right? Just these two.

[00:03:08]>> Yeah, that's >> you know. Is is is he hurt? The guy over here?

[00:03:12]>> I do not know. I just came right around the corner.

[00:03:15]>> Okay.

[00:03:15]>> And and then I see this. They had to lift the car to pull him up under this car.

[00:03:19]>> Okay.

[00:03:19]>> They had to get him from up under the car. The car was on top of him.

[00:03:22]>> Yeah, I heard. Yeah, I heard. I heard.

[00:03:24]Okay.

[00:03:25]>> Before officers arrived, the scene is already being shaped by what witnesses were able to observe. Their accounts align on one key point. The vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed before the rollover, a pattern that becomes relevant when it appears consistently across independent statements. However, the focus quickly shifts to what happens after the crash. The victim is pulled from beneath a vehicle, but some of its occupants do not remain at the scene.

[00:03:50]That early departure immediately limits the investigation because not everyone involved is available to explain what had happened. At the same time, the presence of a second vehicle confirms this was not a single vehicle loss of control. Even so, the scene remains incomplete. The accounts don't fully align, and the absence of the person who was driving the Toyota becomes the most critical gap from the beginning.

[00:04:14]>> Hello.

[00:04:15]>> Hi. Can I just get your name and some info real quick?

[00:04:20]>> What's your last name?

[00:04:24]>> I'm sorry.

[00:04:29]I'll take a phone number for you.

[00:04:40]>> Okay. What's a good address for you?

[00:04:43]Okay. Can you tell me what you saw?

[00:04:45]>> So on on this lane here, we I was coming uh across 16.

[00:04:51]>> Mhm.

[00:04:51]>> This way. And when I tell you it was like a speed of light. He came from uh the other lane. Well, I wasn't in the inner. He came from around me and came around this way. But the speed the speed was unbelievable.

[00:05:07]>> Okay. And it dashed you back by 16th Street.

[00:05:10]>> A little before 16.

[00:05:11]>> A little before. You're in this lane going this way. He came zipped around you in the in the right lane.

[00:05:16]>> And so when he when he did that, so I didn't see him because he was going so fast. I didn't see him hit this car. All I saw is that he came and tried to get back up to this lane when he started flipping.

[00:05:28]>> Do you know where that car was? Was it >> He said he was turning here.

[00:05:31]>> Okay.

[00:05:32]>> So, you just saw you guys were coming this way. You're in this lane >> and then you saw him zip around like fly past you in the right lane. You didn't see him hit that car. You just saw >> he's going too fast.

[00:05:43]>> Yeah. And then you just saw >> Yeah.

[00:05:45]>> And that's where it came to rest.

[00:05:47]>> Well, he started flipping >> right here. I started flipping it all over the road. I think he did it at least four four times.

[00:05:57]>> Okay.

[00:05:58]>> Okay. Can you just tell me the result?

[00:06:00]>> I'm going down the road and I happen to look up. I heard the noise.

[00:06:03]>> Okay. You're you're you're going this way.

[00:06:05]>> I'm going I'm heading uh uh east.

[00:06:07]>> East. And uh were you in the median lane?

[00:06:09]>> I was in the the right lane.

[00:06:10]>> Right lane. Okay.

[00:06:11]>> Down about where my truck I was when I started seeing I was like up in here.

[00:06:15]>> Okay.

[00:06:15]>> But when they started flipping kept going cuz I didn't know how far it was going to flip.

[00:06:20]So >> you saw it right here though?

[00:06:22]>> Yeah, I saw they ended up right there and the guys seen the guys.

[00:06:26]>> You know which way they were driving?

[00:06:27]>> They were going this way. They were going east also.

[00:06:29]>> Do you know what lane they were in?

[00:06:31]>> I don't know if it's a inside or outside lane, but they were heading east.

[00:06:34]>> Okay. And you did you didn't see anything happen. You just saw the vehicle flip. I seen the vehicle flip and then I when I pulled over and I was calling uh 911, I was making a U-turn and they was >> the other guys that was in the vehicle with him >> uh tried to lift the vehicle off of >> this. They were in this one.

[00:06:53]>> Yeah.

[00:06:53]>> How many people did you see?

[00:06:55]>> It was three the the guy down and three other guys.

[00:06:58]>> Okay.

[00:06:59]>> Where where they at? You know, >> they left.

[00:07:01]>> They left.

[00:07:02]>> They got him up and it got him out and they left. I can't see which way. I didn't see which way because I was on the phone with 911. Okay. I didn't see which way they went.

[00:07:11]>> Okay.

[00:07:11]>> There were there's actually four people.

[00:07:14]>> Uh could you describe those people to me? Were they white males, black females?

[00:07:18]>> They're black males.

[00:07:19]>> Black males.

[00:07:19]>> Black males.

[00:07:20]>> Uh do you know how tall they were? What they were wearing?

[00:07:26]>> No, I was on the phone. I didn't pay attention. I seen that guy laying there and I swear I really panicked. Okay.

[00:07:32]>> And seen them get stuff out, try to lift the car. So they were trying to all three of three of them were trying to lift the car up.

[00:07:38]>> Yeah. Because the car ended up like that.

[00:07:41]>> Okay.

[00:07:41]>> The guy was like stuck. That's why here might have been. I know he came to help.

[00:07:48]>> He came to help.

[00:07:49]>> Yeah. I don't know if he was actually in the vehicle.

[00:07:51]>> Did you witness this?

[00:07:52]>> Yes. Who I got to talk?

[00:07:53]>> Were you in the crash?

[00:07:53]>> Yes.

[00:07:54]>> Who I got to talk to? I'm trying to figure out where he when I called his mom at Bayfront Hospital.

[00:07:59]>> All right. I I need to go to the hospital.

[00:08:01]>> Were you in the car with him? We need to get your information.

[00:08:05]I can sit down.

[00:08:07]>> Yeah. Yeah, that's fine. You want to sit down and shade?

[00:08:11]>> What happened, man?

[00:08:16]>> He was coming down.

[00:08:17]>> We We'll start out easy. Where were you at? Were you in the Were you a in a passenger front?

[00:08:22]>> Passenger front?

[00:08:23]>> Yeah, he was in the vehicle.

[00:08:26]>> You were in the passenger front?

[00:08:27]>> Yep.

[00:08:28]>> Okay.

[00:08:29]>> No, we were told he was the only person.

[00:08:32]No, he wasn't.

[00:08:34]>> No, I know. Now you're involved, right?

[00:08:36]>> Yeah.

[00:08:37]>> Okay.

[00:08:39]>> Rusty.

[00:08:40]>> We're going to check you out a little bit, man.

[00:08:42]>> Are you hurt anywhere?

[00:08:43]>> No.

[00:08:44]>> Just shook up.

[00:08:46]>> You need some water?

[00:08:50]>> Hey, we're going to check you out a little bit. Okay. Let me get Let me get my crew over here. All right.

[00:09:01]Yeah, the hospital N went to >> How many people were in the vehicle were you guys?

[00:09:05]>> Two.

[00:09:06]>> So, it was you and just a driver, >> huh?

[00:09:08]>> You said there was two people or two more people?

[00:09:10]>> Yo, it was me and him.

[00:09:12]>> Huh?

[00:09:12]>> Me? Thank >> you. Some more.

[00:09:19]>> It was just you and the driver.

[00:09:21]>> Yeah.

[00:09:21]>> Hello.

[00:09:23]Yeah.

[00:09:26]>> Oh, bro. N just read. I'mma call you back. I'm going call you back, bro.

[00:09:33]>> All right. What happened, man?

[00:09:36]>> It's coming down. I don't even know where the other car went. It was another car.

[00:09:41]>> Was it that black car over there?

[00:09:42]>> Black SUV over there?

[00:09:43]>> I don't know. It was another car.

[00:09:45]>> He just shot out. I don't know if he was trying to shoot across.

[00:09:48]>> You guys were going this way?

[00:09:49]>> Yeah.

[00:09:49]>> What lane were you in? The median or the curb?

[00:09:52]>> We was in We was in the far >> the inside lane to the yellow line.

[00:09:56]>> Yeah.

[00:09:56]>> Okay.

[00:09:56]>> And the car just shot up. shot out from my side street.

[00:09:59]>> Yeah.

[00:09:59]>> Which side street do you remember?

[00:10:01]>> Yeah.

[00:10:01]>> This one right here.

[00:10:01]>> This one right? 13th Street.

[00:10:03]>> And we flip all the way to here.

[00:10:06]>> Were you wearing your seat belt? No.

[00:10:09]>> Where'd you end up?

[00:10:10]>> I don't think if you would.

[00:10:11]>> I don't know.

[00:10:12]>> I don't know.

[00:10:14]>> You said they were wearing a seat belt.

[00:10:15]They were holding my phone.

[00:10:16]>> You thought you were just No.

[00:10:24]>> You see what kind of car it was?

[00:10:25]>> I don't know what.

[00:10:26]>> No.

[00:10:28]It was a black car.

[00:10:29]>> Black car >> just shot through, >> but I don't know where the car went.

[00:10:41]>> You hurting anywhere specific or you just?

[00:10:47]>> As interviews continue, the statements begin to diverge in a critical way. The number of occupants inside the vehicle.

[00:10:53]While some accounts say multiple individuals left the scene, another version emerges that reduces the situation to only two people in the car.

[00:11:02]That discrepancy shifts the direction of the investigation. It's no longer only about how the crash occurred, but about which version aligns with the available evidence. The claim that another vehicle appeared suddenly introduces an external cause, effectively shifting responsibility and reinforcing officers to evaluate not only the facts, but the intent behind each statement. At that point, the case stops being a straightforward reconstruction and starts becoming a conflict between incompatible accounts.

[00:11:31]>> So then you were ahead of him also in the median lane.

[00:11:33]>> I was in.

[00:11:34]>> You're in the curb lane.

[00:11:36]>> And then you just happen to see the car.

[00:11:39]>> I heard the first noise.

[00:11:40]>> Hey brother, how you doing? I didn't see anybody pulling off.

[00:11:44]>> I just started seeing cars.

[00:11:46]>> And you said you saw four people.

[00:11:50]>> You definitely saw another three plus the driver.

[00:11:54]>> I saw these the one this jumping out.

[00:12:03]>> There's no way.

[00:12:05]>> Yeah.

[00:12:07]>> Okay. Yeah, >> you got his name, address, phone number, date of birth.

[00:12:11]>> You saw that in that car? I used to saw him trying to lift up.

[00:12:14]>> No, I see him getting >> I can see that in my rear.

[00:12:18]>> That's fine.

[00:12:21]>> All right. I don't >> We won't hold you up, but thank you for standing by.

[00:12:26]>> See my eye.

[00:12:27]>> They may reach out to you later, the traffic homicide people, >> because it's a serious injury. So, but um >> yeah.

[00:12:35]Hello, I'm Officer Bond. I was wondering, can I speak with a Herbert Jones? Who?

[00:12:42]>> Herbert Jones?

[00:12:43]>> I don't think he's here right now.

[00:12:45]>> You don't think he's here right now? Do you mind if I uh >> come in and search?

[00:12:50]>> Um, you have to wait till everyone gets back from the store from right here.

[00:12:54]>> Is Is she going to be back soon?

[00:12:55]>> Yeah, she's in the store right over there.

[00:12:56]>> She's right at the store over there.

[00:12:58]>> Okay. So, once she gets back, >> I'll ask her. Are you just a babysitter?

[00:13:04]I'm the cousin.

[00:13:05]>> Just let me know when you go make contact.

[00:13:09]>> I'm 1012 at the door with uh >> Hello. Right there.

[00:13:15]>> Y'all get back in there.

[00:13:16]>> Yeah.

[00:13:18]I'm getting ready to talk to the uh home the homeowner. Ow.

[00:13:38]>> Hello, ma'am.

[00:13:40]>> I am officer Bond from St. Petersburg Police Department. I am here to talk with Herbert Jones.

[00:13:47]I have been told that he's >> staying at this residence.

[00:13:51]>> He's actually been back and forth.

[00:13:52]>> Back and forth. Do you mind if I uh >> go in there and uh make sure he's not in there?

[00:13:58]>> Cuz I know you're I think it's your niece or whatever. She said that he's not here right now, but >> Yeah, cuz he left last night. That's why he last night.

[00:14:06]>> Yeah, he's been gone. So, he leaves for like 2 three days and I ain't coming back. So, >> okay. You mind if I search just to make sure he's not there?

[00:14:17]It'll just make it easier so we don't keep having people come out looking for him.

[00:14:22]>> I mean, I could check.

[00:14:24]>> I know that he left last night.

[00:14:27]>> Do you know where he might have went?

[00:14:29]>> His grandma house.

[00:14:30]>> Where's that at?

[00:14:33]>> From my mistake, I thought it was down.

[00:14:37]>> I don't know.

[00:14:39]Hello.

[00:14:47]Hello.

[00:14:49]>> Hi guys.

[00:14:50]>> Mom, my name is >> Hi, Officer B. How are you?

[00:14:56]>> I broke out.

[00:15:00]>> I broke out of jail.

[00:15:01]>> You broke out of jail?

[00:15:04]>> If you just want >> She broke out of jail, too.

[00:15:05]>> Get on that channel and just say that we're trying to get her to let us search the house.

[00:15:11]trying to get I wanted a letter.

[00:15:18]>> Come in and uh make sure he's not >> a lot of kids and stuff.

[00:15:24]>> Um >> I just know I know I just don't have time for this cuz I got TPS in my life. There's a lot going on right now.

[00:15:37]>> If he comes back, will you give us a call?

[00:15:39]>> Yes.

[00:15:40]for sure. 2 3 days he's fine. And then he comes literally right.

[00:15:45]>> I know that his grandma is there.

[00:15:49]>> Yeah, that's his grandma.

[00:15:51]>> Yeah, that's grandom whoever the hell that is. Um I know he did tell me like she wasn't supposed to be there cuz him and their mom got into it. My friend just told me the a whole little other story and I asked him about it yesterday which is why I think it's why he did leave because I told him the same thing like I told y'all I have CPS in my life so whatever you did do with the police you know you can't really be here like that um cuz I can get in trouble not from here I am from the state of Minnesota.

[00:16:26]>> How do you know him?

[00:16:27]>> My best friend. Who's your best friend or?

[00:16:30]>> No, my best friend is his ex-girlfriend from Okay. Yeah.

[00:16:35]>> So, she brought him over here to see me cuz I'm fresh back from Minnesota. 2 months in. Um, he spent a couple nights here with her. This was in like the beginning of July, though.

[00:16:47]>> Okay.

[00:16:47]>> I've been here for 2 months now. So, he's been here multiple times.

[00:16:52]>> Huh?

[00:16:54]As the investigation progresses, officers identify Herbert Jones, age 26, as the individual driving the Toyota at the time of the crash. And from that moment on, the focus changes. It's no longer just about determining what had caused the accident, but about locating a driver who did not remain at the scene. When officers attempt to find him at an address that's linked to him, the information they receive will reinforce this same pattern. They're told that he doesn't live there full-time, that he left the night before, and that it's common for him to be gone for several days at a time. Another possible location is mentioned, suggesting that finding him will require a broader effort. That behavior introduces a key element to the case. Leaving the scene, followed by the inability to locate him afterwards does not appear to be an isolated reaction. It reflects a sequence of decisions that distance him from law enforcement. And in cases like this, that pattern doesn't only complicate the investigation, it directly impacts how the conduct is interpreted legally. I'll give you I got that >> wake up. Okay.

[00:18:05]>> I know that he came here 3 days ago saying that him and the lady from down the block got into it. He just need to spend the night, let her cool off. Um, when my friend told me about whatever he did, I guess >> the car accident. I told him about it yesterday. I explained to him.

[00:18:24]>> What did he say about that?

[00:18:25]>> He said that him and his friend just got into a car accident. Y'all said y'all trying to say he was speeding. He know he wasn't speeding.

[00:18:38]respect for trying to say he won't but he don't understand where I'm coming from.

[00:18:51]>> He understand where I'm coming from and he was going to leave. I know he called me right away. He did end up leaving.

[00:18:58]>> I just I've been at W appointment.

[00:19:01]>> Yeah. last night like he was going back down the way. I know when he say that he's going back to grandma whoever whatever house it is. I don't know but that's >> Oh my god.

[00:19:23]>> I just got this phone too. Yes, I'm fresh from here. I mean friends of Minnesota trying to get it in >> just want to do it while he's in the house and you need to go to the store and just call because >> you know you don't want to come >> I just told him that. I just definitely told him that yesterday. I think he kind of seen >> that I was angry and he left.

[00:19:52]>> Do you have any of his kids here?

[00:19:54]>> No. These are all Does he have kids?

[00:19:57]>> I don't know.

[00:19:58]>> Okay. I don't know. That's what I was just asking.

[00:20:00]>> It's I ain't been here in six years, y'all. I'm fresh back down here trying to move down here cuz I'm getting away from this type of stuff with my baby dad and stuff in Minnesota. So, >> Okay.

[00:20:13]>> It was kind of a hurry up, >> pack all five of my kids up and left.

[00:20:19]>> Well, just like I said, do me a favor.

[00:20:21]call cuz you don't want this >> cuz obviously >> Yeah. I just >> people are going to call and they're going to say that he's here.

[00:20:30]>> Uh so it's going to be a constant and I don't want to see CPS have to see us coming out here most and then they they associate you with >> Yeah. And I don't cuz I already got one cuz somebody I got >> a skinny guy with a chinny and a little bit of a fro baby fro who just left shady side on but white shirt looked like he walked east. I don't know if he got in the car cuz I can't see from this backyard.

[00:20:57]Can you see?

[00:20:58]>> No. I think I think that's >> Yeah. Still 1012 in the front door with uh the homeowner.

[00:21:08]I didn't know that he was driving.

[00:21:10]Thanks for telling me that.

[00:21:12]>> Well, I was just asking if he he mentioned if he was driving or not.

[00:21:15]>> Oh, no, he didn't. He just said they got into a car accident.

[00:21:19]>> Yeah, >> they're saying that they were speeding.

[00:21:21]He wasn't speeding.

[00:21:24]>> Okay.

[00:21:26]>> But he hangs out around here >> like between come here sometime and then >> down the street to either >> I'm like I'm like I'm just hanging over here every Tuesday. Yep.

[00:21:38]>> He definitely do come here. So, >> just uh like I said, let us know.

[00:21:43]>> Okay.

[00:21:44]>> All right.

[00:21:44]>> Thank you.

[00:21:45]>> You're welcome.

[00:21:46]>> The investigation ultimately allowed authorities to reconstruct what had initially been fragmented based on witness statements, physical evidence, and vehicle identification.

[00:21:56]Investigators concluded that Herbert Jones was driving the Toyota, and that the speed at which he was traveling was the primary factor which led to the rollover that killed Jeremiah Jones. But what ultimately defines this case is not just the crash itself. It's what happened afterwards. Jones fled the scene without providing aid or remaining to speak with authorities. And under Florida law, that decision carries a significant legal weight as it reflects both evasion and a failure to act in a life-threatening situation. Following the incident, Jones remained a fugitive for several months until being located out of state and was arrested on an unrelated matter. During that process, authorities confirmed an active warrant tied to his case, leading to his detention and eventual extradition back to Penllis County. He's currently facing charges of vehicular homicide, driving while license suspended, revoked, or cancelled, and leaving the scene of a crash involving death. If convicted, he could face a sentence of up to 30 years in prison or more, depending on how aggravating factors are evaluated during the legal process.