FHP: Driver fled after hitting three utility poles, two signs and fence

Authorities are looking for a driver who struck a fence, two utility poles, a street sign and a stop sign Sunday before taking down a third utility pole and bringing down power lines across Pace Boulevard.

The driver fled the scene on foot after the crash at about 11 a.m., according to Florida Highway Patrol. Witnesses told authorities the woman said she did not have a valid driver's license and then collected her belongings from the car and ran from the scene.

Moments before the series of crashes, the woman was driving a Volkswagen Jetta north on Pace Boulevard toward West Saint Joseph Street.

She ran the car off the road onto a paved sidewalk, colliding with a fence bordering Hobbs Recovery at 2520 N. Pace Blvd. and then two separate utility poles on the right shoulder, according to a news release from FHP.

The car then crossed over the intersection of West Saint Joseph Street and onto the sidewalk north of there, hitting a street sign and a stop sign along the way.

After that, the car collided with the guidewire of a third utility pole, which caused the top of the pole to snap off, pulling down power lines and stretching them across Pace Boulevard.

The car finally came to a stop about 15 feet north of its crash with the guidewire, and the driver fled the scene on foot.

The driver is described as a black woman between 20 and 30 years old who is about 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds.  She had a close, short haircut and earrings, and witnesses said she may have a cut on her face from the collision.

She was last seen running east on Saint Joseph Street wearing a white shirt with black pants that had one leg rolled up to the knee. She was wearing one black sandal.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Trooper Constance Knowles by dialing *347 or emailing constanceknowles@flhsmv.org.