CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – A pedestrian attacked a driver early Tuesday morning after the driver’s car struck the woman on the Sawgrass Expressway in Coral Springs, authorities confirmed.
According to Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Indiana Miranda, the incident was reported at 3:46 a.m. at mile marker 18.
A Local 10 News crew was at the scene later in the morning as an SUV involved in the incident was being towed away.
Sky 10 was also above the area, showing the massive traffic back-up that was caused after investigators closed down most of the northbound lanes due to the investigation.
Miranda said the investigation revealed that a woman was walking in the northbound lanes of the expressway as the vehicle was approaching.
“The vehicle made an evasive movement to the left however still partially collided with the pedestrian,” Miranda said in a news release. “After the collision the vehicle collided with the guardrail and came to final rest up against the guardrail.”
According to Miranda, after the crash, the pedestrian ran up to the vehicle, opened the passenger door, and then entered the vehicle where she started to attack the driver.
According to a complaint affidavit, the pedestrian, Nevna Paishann Rhodes, 39, of West Palm Beach, began clawing at the victim’s face and, at one point, put her entire hand inside the victim’s mouth.
With her other hand, she tried to gouge the victim’s right eye, authorities said.
Police said the victim defended herself by striking Rhodes across the face.
Miranda said the driver also bit the woman and she then fled the scene.
“The pedestrian fled south and entered a drainage culvert that travels under the northbound lane and into the median where she was discovered trapped,” Miranda said. “The grate to the drainage had to be lifted up so she could be execrated.”
According to the affidavit, police also found Rhodes’ purse with a pipe containing cannabis and a white powdery substance, which tested positive for meth.
According to the Coral Springs Fire Department, the driver was transported to HCA Florida Northwest Hospital with minor injures. Rhodes was taken to Broward Health North with serious injuries.
Miranda said FHP is investigating the crash, while the Coral Springs Police Department had volunteered to investigate the battery part of the incident.
Rhodes faces charges of burglary with battery and possession of methamphetamine.