Man accused of fleeing crashes into Popeyes
RIVIERA BEACH — A Riviera Beach man remains in the Palm Beach County Jail after he allegedly fled from police, causing a crash involving serious injury that ended his escape attempt by smashing into the side of a Popeyes restaurant, according to an arrest report.
Lewis Darren Franklin, 45, faces multiple charges including hit and run involving serious injury, fleeing with disregard to safety and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.
He was being held Thursd a y mo r n i n g i n l i e u o f $36,000 bail.
Franklin was driving a Chevrolet Tahoe when he was seen by Riviera Beach police going through a stop sign at Avenue F and West 15th Street.
A pursuit ensued in which Franklin allegedly drove 75 mph in areas with a posted speed limit of 25 mph, the report said.
Franklin allegedly went through another stop sign on West Blue Heron Boulevard and Avenue H, where he c rashed into a Mazda Protege. The Mazda driver sustained serious injuries and was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, the report said.
Franklin’s Tahoe rolled through some bushes after the crash before running into the west side of the Popeyes at 78 W. Blue Heron Blvd., just west of Broadway.
Franklin bailed out the driver’s side window. Two o t h e r p a s s e n ge r s i n t h e Tahoe also fled on foot.
After a short foot chase, a stun gun was deployed on Franklin, the report said. The two passengers in the Tahoe were not found by police.
A bottle containing methamphetamine pills was discovered in the Tahoe, police said.
Franklin was taken to a hospital for treatment. His jail mugshot reveals that Franklin sustained injuries to his face during the incident.