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Miami Gardens, FL - A woman is facing multiple felony charges after authorities say she intentionally struck two vehicles while fleeing a traffic stop during Tuesday morning’s rush hour on the Palmetto Expressway.
The incident began around 8:20 a.m. near Northwest 12th Avenue in Miami Gardens when a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) motorcycle trooper pulled over the woman, who was driving a Nissan sedan on the shoulder of the expressway to bypass traffic.
She was not wearing a seatbelt and admitted to the trooper that she did not have a valid driver’s license, according to the arrest report.
As the trooper returned to their motorcycle to retrieve a pad of paper, the woman restarted her car and sped away from the traffic stop.
Authorities say she drove recklessly through congested rush hour traffic, striking two vehicles in an attempt to evade capture.
The report described her actions as "desperate" and noted they demonstrated "no regard for her safety or the safety of the motoring public."
The chase continued eastbound on the Palmetto Expressway before the suspect exited at U.S. 441 near the Golden Glades Park & Ride.
The trooper intercepted her vehicle as she slowed in traffic on the exit ramp.
Despite being pepper-sprayed through an open window, the woman rolled up her window and continued driving before eventually stopping.
According to the report, the suspect initially refused to exit her vehicle, prompting the trooper to break the driver-side window with a specialized tool.
The woman ultimately surrendered without further resistance.
She now faces four felony charges, including fleeing and eluding police and habitual driving with a suspended license.
Additionally, she was charged with resisting arrest without violence and reckless driving causing property damage.
As of Wednesday, the woman remained in custody at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center with bond set at over $13,000.
Authorities confirmed that she was not legally permitted to drive at the time of the incident.
