Two-County Chase Comes To Crashing End In Miami Gardens
MIAMI GARDENS (CBSMiami) – A two-county chase came to a violent end early Friday morning when a man speeding away from police careened into two cars which sent a total of four people to the hospital.
According to the Broward Sheriff's Office, three deputies tried to pull over the driver of a Cadillac early Friday morning after he was spotted making an illegal U-turn at the 3100 block of West Hallandale Beach Blvd. in Pembroke Park.
The driver of the Cadillac, identified as 34-year-old Zachary Moorin, of Dania Beach refused to stop for deputies, according to BSO.
"As the three BSO deputies attempted to stop the white Cadillac, the driver attempted to run them over. They were able to get out of the way but one of the officers was struck by that white Cadillac," said Joe Sanchez of the Florida Highway Patrol.
That third deputy was clipped in the leg but not hurt.
Moorin, BSO said, then sped recklessly southbound on I-95 toward the Miami Gardens Exit.
Once he exited, he sped through two red lights before finally crashing into two cars at Miami Gardens Drive and US 441.
"All I heard was a loud screech and a crash," said a witness who identified himself only as 'Peter.'
Witnesses said he slammed into a white Nissan and sent it spinning and also hit a blue Honda SUV. A woman who came to the scene of the crash told investigators that the driver of the blue Honda was her 59-year-old sister. Her condition is unknown.
The driver of the white Nissan, identified by family as 21-year-old George McGill, was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center. His mother and fiancé told CBS4's Natalia Zea that he's in critical condition with a brain injury.
"He was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. I just hope he gets better," said McGill's friend James Cayanite.
A passenger in McGill's car, identified as a friend who lives in Lehigh Acres, was also hospitalized at JMH in unknown condition.
McGill's friends and family says he's working to start a record label.
"We would chill every day, play ball every day, make music, perfect guy. I would not see this happening. It's crazy," said another friend Julia Arzun.
His friends are upset that a man running from the law ended up hurting so many innocent people.
"All he was doing was driving. He got hit and this bad thing happened. He crashed out. He wrecked out. We're just hoping for the best for him right now. Hopefully he makes it out of this situation," said Cayanite.
Moorin, meantime, was also taken to JMH for treatment and later released to Miami Gardens police for booking.
He has been arrested in the past for DUI and Speeding.
He now faces several new charges including Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Aggravated Battery, Fleeing and Eluding Police, and Reckless Driving.
CBS4's Peter D'Oench spoke with Moorin's next-door neighbor in Dania Beach.
That neighbor, Ken Gilbert, told D'Oench, "He lived alone in the house next to me where he kept his
white cadillac and a motorcycle. He was quiet and kept to himself. He does his own thing. He seemed like
a nice guy."
"It's very shocking and crazy that we have someone like this who could potentially hurt some people and not care for their safety. So it's nerve wracking to have that type of person living next to me."
An incident report released by BSO says Moorin "accelerated aggressively towards the deputies" and
"launched his vehicle at deputies." The report said Moorin was ordered to stop and then fled at a
"high rate of speed." He reportedly failed to stop at two other red lights before the crash.
Moorin had posted a picture of himself on Facebook, smiling while playing the piano.
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