JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 22-year-old driver was killed early Wednesday morning when a teenager in a pickup truck speeding away from police ran through a red light on Beach Boulevard, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
According to the FHP, Zachary Lambert, 16, was heading east on Beach Boulevard about 3 a.m. when he went through the intersection of San Pablo Road and struck a car driven by Christopher Thompson.
"(Lambert) went through a red light, struck another vehicle in the side. That driver died at the scene," FHP Lt. Bill Leeper said.
Lambert was transported to Shands Jacksonville Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
The FHP said Jacksonville police responding to a call about an erratic driver had pursued the pickup at a high rate of speed for about four miles.
Lambert was charged with vehicular homicide, fleeing and attempting to elude a law enforcement officer and driving without a license. FHP said the truck he was driving was not his.
Troopers also said blood alcohol content results are pending.
Beach Boulevard was closed in both directions from San Pablo Road to Penman Road until just before 8 a.m. while the accident was investigated and cleared.
As for the police officers involved in the chase, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office's pursuit policy states:
"Vehicle pursuits may present a danger to the lives of the public, as well as to the police officers and suspects involved in the pursuit. Every member is responsible for determining whether the initiation and continuation of a pursuit is permitted by this policy prior to engaging in the pursuit."
According to the policy, officers should pursue vehicles if a suspect has committed or is committing a forcible felony, the violator is engaging in hazardous driving, which is creating an immediate threat to the public, prior to the initiation of the pursuit, or the driver is suspected of driving under the influence.
The Sheriff's Office is not commenting on this case, which is also being investigated by the Department of Children and Families.
Lindsay Haynes brought roses to the crash site Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving and less than two weeks before Thompson's 23rd birthday. She wants the Thompson family to know they have her support.
"That's all she cared about, you know, God and the kids, and that was pretty much it. So I know that she's absolutely devastated right now," Haynes said of Thompson's mother. "My heart goes out to her and her family. It's very rough. Anytime when you lose a child, it's horrible. I couldn't imagine."
Those who know Lambert say he was a troubled kid.
"That's really unfortunate because that is going to sort of ruin his life, really. That's really sad," said neighbor Will Ptak.
Ptak lives across from Lambert's last listed address, Panama Youth Services, a halfway house in Panama Park for teenage boys in foster care.
The owner said in a phone interview he hadn't seen Lambert in more than a month because he'd been in the juvenile detention center. He had no idea the teen had gotten out.