Dash cam footage from Florida Highway Patrol troopers shows an alleged car thief crashing and then jumping off the expressway into nearby water to evade capture.
Melina Logan allegedly stole a 2024 Honda Civic from a South Miami Honda dealership on May 9 after test-driving the vehicle, according to Local 10 News. The 27-year-old reportedly waited for the dealership salesman to leave the car before allegedly taking off with it.
A nearly 20-minute-long video was released of the incident, showing Logan speeding along the highway. The vehicle can be seen driving in the emergency lane and weaving between traffic.
The driver then crashed into a truck traveling southbound on the Palmetto Expressway, the outlet noted. (RELATED: Video Shows Wild Police Chase End After Woman Hits Multiple Vehicles Head-On)
“She’s trapped inside the car,” a trooper can be heard saying in the dash cam video. The trooper rushes out of his vehicle and toward the crash site, where Logan can be seen jumping over the expressway’s ramp and into the water.
Logan was eventually rescued by authorities, the outlet noted. She appeared to be in distress and was allegedly topless when captured.
Logan allegedly crashed into four vehicles during the pursuit and ultimately damaged the stolen Honda Civic, according to Local 10 News.
The North Carolina native was arrested and charged with a third-degree grand theft charge and two counts of battery on a police officer, according to Miami-Dade County inmate records.
She also faces five charges of leaving the scene of an accident and single charges of aggravated fleeing to elude a law enforcement officer, leaving the scene of a crash and resisting arrest, inmate records show.
