Driver of car that crashed into Sarasota Lamborghini meetup was 16 with a learner's permit
SARASOTA – The driver of a black 2018 Ford Mustang that careened out of control into the crowd attending a Lamborghini After Hours event on Jan. 21 was a 16-year-old boy from Nokomis who was driving on a learner’s permit, according to a traffic crash report released by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.
The teen – whose name is not being released by the Herald-Tribune – was issued two citations, one for careless driving and one for having a passenger under the age of 21.
Earlier: Mustang crashes into crowd at event hosted by Lamborghini dealership
The accident occurred at about 7:35 p.m. as the Lamborghini After Hours Event, which was scheduled to run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., was winding down at the host dealership, Lamborghini Sarasota, which is located west of Honore Avenue, in the 5100 block of Clark Road.
According to the report, filed by Sheriff’s Deputy Joshua Sanders, “hundreds of vehicles were leaving the show and proceeding south on an Access Road and driving recklessly to leave the area.”
A crowd of between 100 and 150 people, believed to be mostly juveniles, were on the south side of the dealership property, along Clark Road.
The teen driver “made a wide right turn to travel west on Clark Road, failing to stay in the curb lane as required,” the report noted. The car then “accelerated through the turn and lost control and over-corrected as the vehicle began to swing inward.”
The car then jumped the curb, crossed the sidewalk, and entered into a grassy area in front of the dealership.”
The report noted the Mustang was traveling 40 mph in a 45 mph zone at the time the driver lost control.
Several pedestrians were injured, but none requested transport to a hospital, according to the report.
A video of the accident posted on YouTube by Ike Yoder shows cars turning onto Clark Road from the access road and directly entering the left-most of three westbound lanes.
Then, at the 5:47 mark, the Mustang comes into view, as the driver makes the right onto Clark Road, briefly straddles the line between the center and right lane, and then veers into the right lane and proceeds to the crowd.
That was one of several cell phone videos posted on YouTube and picked up by local TV stations.
The report documents injuries to seven pedestrians, ranging from abrasions to an open wound on the right ankle of one person.
Vehicle damage included a flat right tire and minor denting, though the driver told deputies the suspension may have been damaged as well.
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The dealership first started hosting the monthly get-togethers in September.
A Facebook post publicizing the event said owners of all model cars were encouraged to attend.
They were asked to remain on the dealership property and not stand in the median to watch vehicles leave.
The notice asked for attendees to be respectful and specifically asked for “no revving burnouts, HIGH-SPEED FLYBys (all caps from the media post) or activities that might be considered dangerous or disrespectful to others.”
Staff members also were on premises to direct traffic to parking spaces.
Dealership employees have declined to respond to previous media requests for comment.
Sarasota County Sheriff’s Spokeswoman Kaitlyn Perez said the dealership had told the department it was suspending future events.
The Sheriff’s Office had not been aware of the gatherings prior to the Jan. 21 incident, and the dealership had never inquired about traffic control.
Earle Kimel primarily covers south Sarasota County for the Herald-Tribune and can be reached at earle.kimel@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism with a digital subscription to the Herald-Tribune.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Mustang that crashed Lamborghini party was teen on learner's permit
