A 34-year-old man was arrested after allegedly forcing a woman out of her vehicle in Jacksonville, Florida, stealing it with her 1-year-old child still inside, and crashing into another vehicle in a collision that sparked a fire, authorities said.
A Carjacking With a Child Still in the Back Seat
Deputies with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported carjacking after a woman said she’d been forced from her vehicle by a man who then drove off with her toddler still secured in the back seat. Authorities say officers located the stolen vehicle just a few streets away shortly after the report came in. When officers attempted to stop the suspect, he crashed into another vehicle, triggering a fiery wreck that left the other driver trapped inside a burning car.
Officers Pull Two People From Danger
Police say Officer Almin Residovic ran toward the flames and pulled the trapped driver out of the vehicle; authorities say the driver’s hair had caught fire during the crash. At the same time, another officer reached the stolen vehicle and removed the 1-year-old child, who was not injured. A 14-year-old occupant of the other vehicle managed to get out before officers arrived and was also unharmed. The adult driver of the struck vehicle was taken to a hospital and is continuing to recover, according to police.
Charges Filed
Investigators identified the suspect as Richard Younger, 34, who authorities say was taken into custody at the scene. He faces charges including carjacking, leaving the scene of a crash without rendering aid, aggravated fleeing from law enforcement after a crash, and false imprisonment of a child under 13 years of age. As with any pending case, these charges represent allegations that have not yet been proven in court. Younger remains in custody as the case proceeds through the court system, authorities say.