Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
-Major Accident Investigation Team
-Flight Unit

Haidar Ateia (Driver – Arrested)
DOB: 7/26/1994
Address: 2726 Lakebreeze Lane, Clearwater
Charges: DUI with Serious Bodily Injury, Fleeing and Eluding, Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Serious Bodily Injury, and Habitual Traffic Offender.
Vehicle: 2017 Dodge Charger

Travis Craig (Passenger)
DOB: 1/26/1996
Address: 4237 8^th Avenue South, St. Petersburg
Vehicle: 2017 Dodge Charger

Latoyria Robinson (Passenger)
DOB: 7/21/1989
Address: 7214 Worchester Court, Hudson
Vehicle: 2017 Dodge Charger

PINELLAS COUNTY – Deputies assigned to the Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) are investigating a single vehicle crash at 28^th Avenue South and 4^th Street South in St. Petersburg.

At approximately 2:54 a.m. on Thursday, October 14, 2021, patrol deputies in the area of 66^th Street and 49^th Avenue North heard gunshots and observed a Dodge Charger fleeing the area at a high rate of speed. Deputies learned the driver was seen shooting a gun in the air before speeding away.

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Flight Unit located the vehicle and followed as it crossed the Skyway Bridge into Manatee County. The vehicle turned around and reentered Pinellas County, later striking stop sticks which deflated the tires. The vehicle failed to negotiate a curve at 28^th Avenue South and 4^th Street South and crashed into a tree.

The driver, 27-year-old Haidar Ateia, ran from the vehicle and was apprehended a short distance later. He was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and a Blood Alcohol Concentration of .142. He will be booked into the Pinellas County Jail when he’s discharged.

Deputies say the passengers, 25-year-old Travis Craig and 32-year-old Latoyria Robinson, received non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to a local hospital for treatment.  

Speed and impairment appear to be factors in the crash.

The investigation continues.