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A 25-year-old Lake Butler man has been arrested in connection with a Union County hit-and-run accident that killed a Starke woman and injured her 10-month-old daughter.
According to police reports, Julius Crusaw drove his pickup truck through a stop sign in a rural area west of Worthington Springs, and crashed into a Jeep driven by Jodie Norris, 23. A Union County deputy, who saw the pickup driving erratically and speeding, was chasing Crusaw when the accident occurred.
Crusaw ran from the vehicle following the crash; canine units and other law enforcement agencies were unable to find him. Crusaw later turned himself in after contacting the Alachua County State Attorney’s Office the following day.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Norris died at the scene; her daughter was transported to Shands at the University of Florida in Gainesville where she was listed in serious condition. Subsequent news reports said that she is expected to recover.
Crusaw, who was driving with a suspended drivers license, has been charged with fleeing and eluding police. Deputies speculated that Crusaw fled because he has a long history of traffic violations as well as unpaid speeding tickets.
An investigation into the fatal auto accident is continuing.