Shocking footage captured the moment a Kia crashed through the front doors of a Florida convenience store, before pinning a man against the back wall — making matters worse, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department said detectives have determined that the crash was not accidental.
Anthony Katosh, 37, was charged with Criminal Mischief $1,000 or More, after driving a Kia Forte into a Travel Centers of America store at a high rate of speed earlier this week.
“At the time of the crash, a pedestrian was entering the store and was hit by a vehicle driving at a high rate of speed, pinning him between the driver’s side door of the vehicle and a metal structure,” the sheriff’s department said. “Deputies responded and began to provide aid along with Hillsborough County Fire Rescue. Both the driver and the victim were transported to Tampa General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.”
“The footage of the car smashing through this business and straight into a victim is jarring, to say the least,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “It is an absolute miracle that the person pinned by the car did not sustain more serious injuries, and we’re glad to hear he will be ok.”
The victim can be seen in the surveillance footage moving around as he tried to free himself, while one person rushed to help. Other store employees are seen on their phones calling for help.
Turns out, it was a bad week all around for Kia vehicles. On Monday night, in South Buffalo, N.Y., a stolen Kia crashed into a Jeep while being pursued by police, causing that vehicle to crash into an apartment building.
That incident was also captured on surveillance camera.
It’s amazing no one was seriously hurt in this crash last night at Tifft St. and South Park Ave. A Kia that was reported stolen slams into a Jeep, which then plows into an apartment building. 2 people in the Jeep are okay. Charges are pending against the driver. @news4buffalo pic.twitter.com/oph2XJTKbX
— Jeff Preval (@JeffPrevalTV) June 20, 2023
“Another Kia, a red SUV, was seen driving erratically with the blue vehicle Monday afternoon. The red Kia was stolen in Tonawanda about an hour before this incident. Lackawanna Police say they briefly chased the vehicles until they traveled into Buffalo,” WIVB News 4 reported. “The driver of the blue Kia was released with an appearance ticket. Other passengers fled that vehicle. No one was caught in the red Kia.”
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Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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