A wrong-way driver traveling over 100 miles per hour died after crashing into two vehicles on U.S. 1 in Hobe Sound on May 24, 2026, authorities said.
According to the Martin County Sheriff's Office, the incident began shortly before 5 p.m. when the Jupiter Police Department alerted deputies about a vehicle heading northbound in the southbound lanes of U.S. 1.
A U.S. Border Patrol agent first spotted the suspect near Broadway Street and attempted to stop the vehicle. After notifying several agencies, including Juno Beach and Jupiter Police Departments, the pursuit continued north.
Sheriff John Budensiek reported the suspect drove nearly 16 miles against traffic. Police successfully deployed stop sticks, deflating one tire, but the suspect continued and allegedly attempted to run over an officer.
The pursuit ended in Hobe Sound when the suspect crashed into two vehicles near U.S. 1 and Jonathan Dickinson State Park, veering off the roadway and igniting in flames.
Officials confirmed the driver was ejected from the vehicle and CPR was performed, but the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. Four others, including a 6-year-old child with internal injuries airlifted to St. Mary's Medical Center, sustained injuries and are expected to survive.
Investigators noted that the vehicle's tag is registered to an elderly South Florida woman. However, fingerprint analysis has yet to identify the driver involved in the incident.
Sheriff Budensiek emphasized the severity of the crash, stating, “This was a crash involving speeds well over 100 miles per hour.”