FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A stolen U-Haul truck slammed into an SUV, a fence and took out a traffic light during a dangerous crash Tuesday afternoon in Fort Lauderdale.
The incident occurred in the area of Northwest 14th Street and 31st Avenue near the border of Lauderhill.
An unsuspecting driver in a white SUV attempting a U-turn was plowed into by the U-Haul truck that was going the wrong way, sending her to the hospital with serious injuries, police said.
Sky 10 was above the scene shortly after 1:30 p.m. as police tape blocked off the area to traffic.
According to Fort Lauderdale police spokeswoman Casey Liening, officers received a report around 1 p.m. regarding a U-Haul that had been stolen from the U-Haul Moving & Storage at 2800 W. Broward Blvd.
She said an officer spotted the truck a short time later and called for backup.
But before the officer could try to pull over the driver, the U-Haul began driving erratically, traveling in the wrong direction and striking a car, Liening said.
She said the driver of the U-Haul was immediately taken into custody and was to be treated for minor injuries.
He has since been identified as Michael Livingston, 30, a resident of Fort Lauderdale. Police say he will face charges of grand theft, reckless driving, driving without a license and a violation of his conditional release. He also had several felony warrants, Fort Lauderdale police said.
The driver of the SUV was taken to Broward Health Medical Center with serious injuries, Liening said.
A witness said he saw police tackle the suspect and saw the injured woman moving her hands as she was transported on a stretcher.