Florida Man Arrested After I-4 Chase, Crash With FHP Cruiser and Alleged Carjacking Attempt

A 31-year-old Tallahassee man was arrested after a pursuit involving a Tesla on Interstate 4 ended in a collision with a Florida Highway Patrol cruiser and an alleged attempted carjacking in Polk County, according to FHP.

The incident also left an FHP sergeant with non-life-threatening injuries and caused significant traffic disruptions along I-4.

What Happened During the I-4 Pursuit?

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, troopers began pursuing a Tesla in Hillsborough County before the chase continued eastbound into Polk County on August 10, 2026.

FHP described the Tesla as being driven recklessly during the pursuit.

As the driver attempted to exit Interstate 4, investigators said he lost control of the Tesla.

The vehicle then entered the path of a patrol vehicle being driven by an FHP sergeant, resulting in a collision.

Authorities identified the Tesla driver as Antwan Stephen Brinson, 31, of Tallahassee.

FHP Sergeant Injured in Collision

The FHP sergeant involved in the collision suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The sergeant was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Authorities have not released additional information regarding the nature of the trooper’s injuries or the extent of the damage to the patrol vehicle.

Driver Allegedly Fled on Foot After Crash

According to FHP, the collision did not immediately end the incident.

Investigators allege Brinson got out of the Tesla following the crash and fled from troopers on foot.

FHP said he then attempted to carjack a passing motorist along the interstate.

Troopers intervened during the alleged carjacking attempt and deployed a Taser before taking Brinson into custody.

Brinson was transported to a local hospital for treatment before being booked into the Polk County Jail.

Suspect Faces Multiple Felony Charges

FHP said Brinson faces numerous felony charges stemming from the incident.

Specific charges had not been publicly released at the time of the initial report.

The allegations against Brinson have not been proven in court, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Investigators continue to review the circumstances surrounding the pursuit, collision, and alleged attempted carjacking.

Police Pursuits Can Create Serious Risks for Other Drivers

High-speed or reckless-driving pursuits can create significant dangers for law enforcement officers, motorists, passengers, pedestrians, and others who happen to be near the roadway.

Depending on the circumstances, pursuit-related crashes can involve:

• High vehicle speeds.
• Sudden lane changes.
• Vehicles traveling onto shoulders or medians.
• Collisions at highway exits.
• Drivers attempting to evade roadblocks.
• Secondary crashes involving uninvolved motorists.

In this case, authorities said the Tesla lost control while attempting to exit I-4 and entered the path of the FHP sergeant’s vehicle.

What Happens When Someone Is Injured During a Police Pursuit?

Determining civil liability following a pursuit-related collision can be complicated.

An investigation may consider the conduct of the fleeing driver as well as the actions of other parties involved.

Potential issues may include:

• What caused law enforcement to initiate the pursuit.
• The fleeing vehicle’s speed and driving behavior.
• Traffic and roadway conditions.
• How long the pursuit lasted.
• Whether other motorists were endangered.
• The circumstances immediately preceding the collision.
• Applicable law enforcement pursuit policies.
• Whether any additional negligent conduct contributed to an injury.

The available information does not indicate that FHP violated any policy or acted negligently during this pursuit.

Injured Motorists May Have Civil Claims Against a Fleeing Driver

If a fleeing driver negligently or intentionally causes a collision, people injured as a result may potentially have grounds to pursue compensation.

Depending on the circumstances, recoverable damages after a serious Florida car accident may include:

• Emergency medical expenses.
• Hospital bills.
• Future medical treatment.
• Lost wages.
• Reduced future earning capacity.
• Pain and suffering.
• Permanent disability.
• Other damages available under Florida law.

The circumstances can become more complicated when an injured person is a law enforcement officer performing job-related duties, as workers’ compensation and other laws may also apply.

Evidence From the Tesla and Patrol Vehicle Could Be Important

Modern vehicles can contain substantial electronic information that may help investigators reconstruct a pursuit and subsequent collision.

Potential evidence in this case could include:

• Tesla vehicle data.
• Event Data Recorder information.
• GPS and location information.
• FHP dash-camera footage.
• Police body-camera recordings.
• Highway surveillance cameras.
• Radio communications.
• Witness statements.
• Crash scene photographs.
• Vehicle damage analysis.
• Accident reconstruction findings.

Such evidence could help establish the Tesla’s movements, speed, and the sequence of events leading to the collision.

Alleged Carjacking Adds Another Element to Investigation

FHP’s allegation that Brinson attempted to carjack a passing motorist after fleeing the crash adds another serious component to the investigation.

Authorities said troopers were able to intervene during the alleged attempt and take him into custody after deploying a Taser.

No injuries to the motorist involved in the alleged carjacking were reported in the initial information released by authorities.

I-4 Traffic Disrupted Following Incident

The pursuit and crash caused significant traffic problems on Interstate 4 early Monday morning.

A traffic alert was issued while authorities investigated the collision and cleared the scene.

FHP reported that all lanes reopened at approximately 7:30 a.m.

Investigation Continues

The Florida Highway Patrol continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the I-4 pursuit.

Authorities allege that Brinson fled from troopers in a Tesla, lost control while attempting to exit the interstate, collided with an FHP patrol vehicle, fled on foot and attempted to carjack a passing motorist before being taken into custody.

Additional details, including the complete list of criminal charges, may become available as the investigation and criminal case move forward.

We wish the injured FHP sergeant a full and speedy recovery and are thankful that the incident did not result in more serious injuries to motorists traveling on I-4.