JDM MKIV Supra Wrecked In Florida Police Chase

Seeing what was obviously a beautiful JDM-spec MKIV Supra mangled is enough to make enthusiasts furious. But after one was so pitted out while the driver fled from Florida Highway Patrol recently, some enthusiasts and even car sites have laid into the trooper and FHP as if they committed some heinous crime.

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One publication called the PIT maneuver “questionable” and claimed the PIT maneuver was performed at 100 mph, which is a supposition, at best. Others have alleged the whole thing was unnecessary because of feelings.

Here are the facts as FHP has shared them. At 1 am on May 4 a trooper out patrolling in Tampa Bay saw the MKIV Supra going 93 mph in a 55 mph zone. When the trooper tried pulling the driver of the JDM coupe over, the suspect took off instead of complying.

This is where we lose sympathy for the driver. Look, unless you drive like an old granny, we all speed at least sometimes. But when you get caught, you pull over and take the ticket, then either fight it in court or do the drivers’ ed course.

Instead, this genius took off, apparently believing all the hype that nothing can catch a Supra MKIV. To try ditching the trooper, the suspect pushed the Toyota to over 100 mph. However, to the shock of someone who doesn’t know anything about the FHP cruisers, the trooper kept up and performed a successful PIT maneuver, although we don’t know at what speed that was done.

After the PIT, the Supra spun out off the shoulder, hit a light pole, then caught fire. First responders were able to get the driver, 31-year-old Brandon Ramnarine of Tampa, as well as the passenger out of the JDM-spec Toyota. Both sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

Now Ramnarine doesn’t have his car and has been hit with fleeing and eluding at high speed. They guy was probably just looking at a speeding ticket, but he turned it into criminal charges. Brilliant.

But if you think cops are horrible because you’ve been busted for speeding and driving like an idiot repeatedly, this situation looks like an abuse of power. Guess what: in Florida and a fair number of other states, running from police can come with consequences like a PIT maneuver. If you don’t want your car wrecked while risking the potential for physical harm, pull over for a police officer when they turn on their lights.

If you think the cop is in the wrong, fight the charges in court. Running from police like you’re one of the Duke boys is a great way to find out what being an outlaw in real life is all about.

The poor Supra didn’t deserve this, but Ramnarine made a choice to run, so its demise is on him, not FHP.

Images via fhp_tampa/Instagram