LAKE WORTH, Fla. — A 20-year-old man faces charges after fleeing the scene of a crash that critically injured a 19-year-old woman Monday night.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said Travis Tavares Towns was operating a BMW X4 at a high rate of speed on northbound Interstate 95 before exiting at 10th Avenue North shortly before 11:30 p.m.
Deputies attempted a traffic stop, but Towns refused to yield and continued westbound on 10th Avenue North, prompting deputies to discontinue the pursuit.
According to a crash report, the woman was driving a Toyota Camry and making a left turn onto State Street when Towns struck her vehicle from behind while traveling in the wrong direction. This impact redirected the Camry onto the sidewalk, where it came to a stop.
The BMW then collided with a wooden light pole and a bus stop before overturning and ending up in the grass shoulder, authorities said.
Towns fled the scene on foot without rendering aid or providing information to the victim. A K-9 unit subsequently tracked and apprehended him. He was arrested for resisting arrest.
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue transported the woman to St. Mary's Medical Center with critical, life-threatening injuries. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.