Driver who crashed into ambulance in Largo arrested, deputies say

A driver who ran a red light in Largo and crashed into an ambulance earlier this month, injuring three people inside, has been arrested, deputies said.

Pinellas deputies arrested Willie Lee Daniels Jr., 41, of Clearwater, on Tuesday for driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, fleeing and eluding, all resulting in serious bodily injury. Daniels was also injured and hospitalized after the May 18 crash.

According to information previously released by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, Daniels was stopped for a traffic violation at 2:44 a.m., but fled at a high rate of speed before causing the crash within minutes later.

A medical fleet ambulance, driven by Derrick Gil, 25, had been traveling west on East Bay Drive, east of North Missouri Avenue before the crash. The ambulance was carrying a 70-year-old patient, who was being treated by doctor Ashley Markel, 28, according to the sheriff's office.

The ambulance was traveling about 35 mph when it entered the intersection of East Bay Drive and North Missouri Avenue with a solid green traffic light, according to investigators. Daniels was driving a 2014 BMW X1 north on Seminole Boulevard when he entered the intersection and struck the ambulance at a high speed, causing it to spin and flip onto its side.

Gil was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. Markel, Daniels and the patient in the ambulance were taken to the hospital with serious, but not life-threatening, injuries.

Just before the crash, officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Daniels for an unidentified violation near Ridge and Ulmerton roads. Daniels initially stopped for deputies, but quickly turned around and fled north. Seminole Boulevard, deputies said.

The deputy did not pursue Daniels, according to investigators, but He turned off his lights and sirens and resumed normal driving.

The sheriff's office has not released information about evidence showing Daniels was impaired. An arrest affidavit was not immediately available.

Daniels was being held without bail Wednesday in the Pinellas County Jail.