FORT LAUDERDALE — Dash camera footage released by the Florida Highway Patrol shows a high-speed pursuit on Interstate 95 that culminated in a chain-reaction crash in Fort Lauderdale on July 10, authorities said.
Troopers say driver weaved through traffic at more than 100 mph
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, troopers pursued a white Buick after reports of reckless driving on the southbound lanes of I-95 just after 8 p.m. The dashcam recording shows a trooper joining eastbound I-595 after receiving notification that another trooper had spotted the Buick on I-95.
FHP said the driver, later identified as 35-year-old Marquel Montgomery, cut in front of other vehicles repeatedly and reached speeds as high as 103 mph while attempting to flee officers. Video shows troopers with emergency lights and sirens on as they navigated through traffic to catch up to the vehicle.
Collision occurred near an active emergency scene
FHP reports that the pursuit continued into a congested stretch of the highway where rescue vehicles were already on scene for a separate incident. As traffic slowed, the Buick struck a stopped vehicle and triggered a multi-vehicle collision that included another FHP cruiser that had been responding to the other emergency.
- The pursuit took place shortly after 8 p.m. on July 10.
- Troopers estimated the fleeing Buick reached up to 103 mph.
- The crash was a chain-reaction collision involving at least one other motorist and an FHP cruiser responding to a separate incident.
After the collision, Montgomery exited the Buick and fled on foot. Troopers quickly apprehended him nearby, according to the arrest report.
"I am on ecstasy. I need help please."
FHP said Montgomery spontaneously made that statement to troopers after being taken into custody. The arrest report also notes that he repeatedly told officers he was sorry.
Charges and investigation
Montgomery remains in the Broward County Jail. He faces multiple charges, including leaving the scene of an accident with property damage and resisting an officer, according to FHP. The agency has released the dashcam video as part of its public records and said it is cooperating with any additional inquiries into the crash and pursuit.
| Detail | Reported |
|---|---|
| Date and time | July 10, just after 8 p.m. |
| Top speed reported | 103 mph |
| Driver | Marquel Montgomery, 35 |
| Known charges | Leaving the scene with property damage; resisting an officer |
Officials did not provide information about injuries or the number of vehicles involved beyond describing it as a chain-reaction crash that included another trooper’s cruiser. Video shows several vehicles affected by the collision and emergency lights illuminating the scene.
What this means for Fort Lauderdale motorists
The release of the footage underscores ongoing concerns about high-speed driving and the dangers such pursuits can pose to the public. While law enforcement agencies frequently weigh the risks of high-speed chases against the imperative to apprehend suspects, the incident highlights how pursuits can quickly involve uninvolved motorists, especially on heavily trafficked corridors like I-95 and the interchange with I-595.
Drivers who use these highways during peak hours should be aware of the potential for sudden slowdowns near emergency scenes and the presence of first responders working along the shoulders or in travel lanes. Troopers said other motorists initially cleared a path for the pursuing unit as sirens and lights were active.
The Florida Highway Patrol has made the dashcam footage public; investigators and prosecutors will determine whether additional charges are appropriate as the case progresses through the Broward County criminal justice system.
The agency did not immediately release further details about the condition of other drivers or any follow-up traffic enforcement actions resulting from the crash.
