Hit and run driver arrested of Nov. 18, street racing crash with seriously injured driver
Photos courtesy of FHP (suspect) and MCFR (vehicle).
Ocala, Florida - Last week, three vehicles were involved in a hit-and-run crash on State Road 200 in Ocala that resulted in serious bodily injuries to one of the drivers.
At 8:44 am on Saturday, November 18, 2023, a Ford Mustang and a 2016 Chevrolet Corvette were traveling west on State Road 200 - involved in a street race, operating their vehicles at a high rate of speed, making multiple lane changes, and driving recklessly. In the area of Southwest 80th Street, the Corvette struck a 2016 Toyota Prius that was also traveling west on State Road 200. Due to the impact, the Corvette traveled off the roadway, struck a utility pole and a tree.
The Prius, driven by an 82 year-old man from Ocala who was not injured, remained in the median.
The driver of the Ford Mustang - later identified as 23 year-old Jacob Steven Michael Carmack, of Ocala - briefly parked his car in the parking lot of a local business and checked the injury status of the driver of the Corvette, who had been ejected from his vehicle, before leaving the crash area in his Ford Mustang. The driver of the Corvette, a 38 year-old male from Ocala, was seriously injured.
Marion County Fire Rescue (MCFR) was dispatched to the scene of the crash due to numerous 911 calls reporting that a white Corvette had traveled off the roadway, clipped a power pole and broken apart (see MCFR crash photos). The power lines were hanging very low, which resulted in the closure of that area of State Road 200 until repairs were completed. According to MCFR, the driver of the Corvette was declared a “trauma alert” and transported to a local hospital.
Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) investigators released images of the Ford Mustang driver (see FHP photos) to the public in an effort to identify him. The driver, later identified as Carmack, appeared to be a heavy-set white male, with a beard and tattooed arms. The Mustang was described as a silver-colored 2020-2023 model with tinted windows. Anyone with information was asked to contact the Florida Highway Patrol or Crimestoppers to provide tips.
Through investigative efforts and tips provided by witnesses and the public, the suspected driver of the Mustang was identified as 23 year-old Jacob Steven Michael Carmack, of Ocala, who was arrested on Tuesday, November 27, 2023, and booked into Marion County Jail in Ocala on the following charges: reckless driving which resulted in serious bodily injury to another, failure to remain on the scene of a crash that resulted in serious bodily injury to another person, and racing on highways. This investigation remains active and ongoing.
To learn more about the dangers of street racing, visit Street Racing/Takeovers, Stunt Driving by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles at flhsmv.gov/safety-center/driving-safety/stop-racing.
According to FOX 35 News, Orlando, Florida, at the time of his arrest, Carmac was employed as a corrections officer with CoreCivic at the Citrus County Detention Facility in Lecanto (Citrus County), Florida.