DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A "convicted felon, street thug" who was speeding away from police was involved in a head-on crash with a husband and wife who were bringing their 1-day-old baby home from the hospital, according to Daytona Beach Police Chief Craig Capri.
Shawn Irving was driving a black Chevrolet Camaro that matched the description of a vehicle involved in an armed robbery when authorities attempted to pull him over Monday afternoon, Capri said.
While trying to elude officers, Irving crashed head-on into a Dodge Durango on Bellevue Avenue, officials said.
A woman who gave birth Sunday, her husband and their 1-day-old baby, who were on their way home from the hospital, were in the Durango. The family was not injured in the crash, according to authorities.
"Thank God. You know, 1-day-old baby -- that's your worst nightmare," Capri said. "You come home from the hospital. You have the joy of having a child and you're going home to celebrate (and) start your new life with your kid and you got this street thug out here -- doesn't care about anybody, just about himself."
The Durango, Capri said, is "built like a tank," so it only sustained minor front-end damage.
Inside the Camaro, police said, they found a trafficking level of heroin, cocaine, pills, cash and a firearm. A pregnant 15-year-old girl, who had possibly been reported missing, was also in the car with Irving, police said.
Capri said Irving is a "convicted felon, street thug" and a drug dealer who has a long history of encounters with law enforcement officers.
"He's got a bunch of charges coming his way, felony charges and, hopefully, we can get him put away for awhile," Capri said.
Police said Monday evening that Irving was not connected with the armed robbery that happened shortly before the crash.
The girl who was in the vehicle has not been identified. Capri said he does not believe she is connected to the active Amber Alert in Titusville.
The armed robbery took place about 3 p.m. at the Dollar General store at 825 W. International Speedway Blvd., according to a news release from authorities. A caller told police that someone was holding a Dollar General worker at gunpoint at the cash register.
The robber directed the employee to empty the money from the register into a shopping bag, police said.
It’s not clear how much money was taken.