Advertisement

Tampa police: Illegal street race injures two; driver sought

 
A 23-year-old driver faces charges after Tampa police said he engaged in an illegal street race Wednesday that left himself and another driver injured. [Tampa Police Department]
A 23-year-old driver faces charges after Tampa police said he engaged in an illegal street race Wednesday that left himself and another driver injured. [Tampa Police Department]
Published June 6, 2018

TAMPA — A 23-year-old driver faces charges after police said he engaged in an illegal street race Wednesday that left himself and another driver injured.

Michael Heiman faces charges of racing on public streets, aggravated careless driving and driving with a suspended license and was also issued several traffic citations.

The incident took place at about 11 a.m. in the 11300 block of N Florida Ave. Witnesses said they saw Heiman's blue 2012 Dodge Challenger speeding south on Florida Avenue while racing a white Challenger. Both exceeded the posted speed limit, police said.

Heiman's car switched from the inside to the outside lane to avoid stopped traffic, police said. But then he spun out of control and slid into the northbound lanes and oncoming traffic, police said.

The blue Challenger struck a black 2005 black Buick sedan. Heiman and the other driver were both taken to Florida Hospital Tampa for treatment of what was described as "severe but non-life threatening injuries."

Police are still searching for the white Challenger and looking to identify the driver. They may also have a partial tag number for that car.