FHP: 2 dead after speeding through Cocoa stoplight

Two people died in Cocoa early Sunday morning after they sped away from a cop and blew through a red light, Florida Highway Patrol troopers say. They got into a wreck in an intersection at about 12:55 a.m., according to FHP.

Quantarius Miller, 30, was headed east along Rosetine Street, with his 27-year-old passenger Michelle Jenkins, in a 2006 Nissan Altima, FHP states.

He had been speeding in the area, according to Cocoa Police Department.

An officer tried to perform a traffic stop, but instead of stopping as the cop turned on the marked patrol car’s blue lights, Miller sped away, FHP officials state. He continued along Rosetine Street, toward the intersection at Clearlake Road, said spokeswoman Sgt. Kim Montes.

Meanwhile, Paul Turner, 64, was headed southbound on Clearlake Road, with his 58-year-old passenger Jean Abner, in a 2015 Toyota RAV4, troopers say.

At the intersection, Miller had a red a light but ignored it, Montes said. The front of the Toyota struck the left side of the Nissan.

The Nissan then struck a fire hydrant, traffic signal control box and concrete wall of a nearby residence, said Montes. The vehicle overturned and ejected Miller, of Cocoa, she said. The Nissan flipped and hit a mailbox, she said.

Turner and Abner, both of Cocoa, were taken to Wuesthoff Medical Center in Rockledge. Turner’s injuries were serious but non-life threatening, and Abner’s were minor. Aside from Miller, everyone was wearing seatbelts.

The wreck happened just days after Miller was released from jail on Jan. 18, records show.

In September 2014, Miller faced charges that included leaving the scene of an accident with personal injury, possession of less than 28 grams of cocaine and resisting an officer without violence. He was found guilty of resisting an officer without violence.

Also in 2014, he was found guilty of battery and false imprisonment.