OCALA, Fla. – Two men were arrested Tuesday and Wednesday in connection with an Ocala crash that left one dead and four injured in October, according to police.
An arrest affidavit shows 52-year-old Mauricio Medina and 30-year-old Joshua Jones are facing charges after they appeared to be racing at speeds of 97 and 98 mph in a 45 mph zone on Oct. 12, the day of the three-car crash.
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The wreck occurred around 6:55 p.m. on State Road 200, south of the Shoppes at Paddock Park.
Video shows a red Hyundai SUV leaving the Red Lobster parking lot to travel east pulled into the path of two vehicles traveling west.
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A Toyota Scion, driven by Jones, hit the driver’s side door while Medina, driving a Honda Civic, crashed into the rear of the Toyota Scion.
A witness said Jones appeared to cut in front of Medina, both weaving in and out at high speeds before colliding and spinning out. According to an arrest affidavit, police observed debris strewn across the scene and tire marks from a sliding sideways tire.
“The computers were very consistent and show the speeds over 95 miles per hour,” said Officer William Joedicke, of the Ocala Police Department. “Because of the matched speeds (and) the witness statements said they were trying to change lanes at the same time, it was consistent with them racing.”
Joedicke said racing isn’t normally an issue during the daytime, but they do see vehicles tearing up and down State Road 200 at night.
“It’s extremely dangerous. That’s the busiest roadway we have in the city. Certain times of the day cars are trying to exit those businesses and also other vehicles are trying to go into the busiensses,” Joedicke said. “That high speed at that time of the day, it’s just an accident waiting to happen.”
Munir Shrouf, 56, was killed in the wreck. His 53-year-old wife and 28-year-old daughter, who were also in the vehicle with him, were injured in the crash, police said.
Shrouf’s daughter told News 6 she was “upset but thankful” following the crash, lucky to escape with her life.
“Both vehicles appeared to be traveling in a manner that put other motorists at risk, traveling at a high rate of speed and in a manner that displayed disregard for the traffic conditions present,” the affidavit reads.
At the time of the collision, Jones’ driver’s license was expired and Medina was driving on a “business purposes only driver’s license,” which he was within his right to do that day as he drove from lunch to work, according to Joedicke.
“Both of the histories are very, of both drivers, are pretty bad... speeding citations and other violations,” Joedicke said.
Medina and Jones face multiple charges, including vehicular homicide, racing on a highway and reckless driving.