PASCO COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – The Florida Highway Patrol is asking for help finding the driver of a Lincoln Navigator who hit a man pushing a wheelchair that carried his wife and baby, and then drove away. The baby was injured in the crash.
FHP investigators think the suspected driver, James Arthur Vermeersch, of Holiday, may be on the run.
Investigators say Vermeersch was driving a gold, 1998 Lincoln Navigator westbound on Bonita Road when he hit Philip Martinez, 45, who was pushing a wheelchair that carried his wife Kat and their 8-month-old daughter Jasmine.
Kat and Jasmine were knocked out of the wheelchair onto the shoulder of the road.
Investigators say Vermeersch took off and drove away westbound on Bonita Road.
A witness followed Vermeersch to his home in Holiday and did not feel comfortable staying, but did get a description of the SUV and the license plate number.
FHP detectives identified the driver as James Vermeersch. They went to his home on May 12 and on May 13, but no one was there. The house was locked and all of the lights were off.
A neighbor told troopers that Vermeersch and his wife loaded up some belongings into the Lincoln Navigator in the early morning on Saturday, May 12 and have not been back since.
FHP investigators say charges are pending against Vermeersch. He was last seen driving a gold, 1998 Lincoln Navigator with Florida license plate number FC86V.
The FHP is asking anyone who has seen James Arthur Vermeersch or has information about the case to contact them by calling *FHP or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS.
8-month-old Jasmine is no longer in the hospital. Details have not been released about her injuries.
