Sarasota man arrested in two hit-and-run crashes

A man troopers say fled from two traffic crashes earlier this month has been arrested and charged with multiple offenses.

According to a report released by the Florida Highway Patrol, 47-year-old Jorge A. Martinez of Sarasota was charged with: two counts of leaving the scene of an accident, driving while insurance suspended, careless driving, failure to immediately report a traffic crash and failure to provide proof of insurance.

On June 17, the FHP reported, a 2011 Chevy Cruze was traveling south on Interstate 75 near Clark Road when, while changing lanes, collided with a 2016 Chevy Tahoe driven by a 33-year-old St. Petersburg man, forcing the Tahoe off the road and into a tree in the highway’s median. The driver of the Cruze fled the scene.

It was later determined the same car was also involved in a crash on University Boulevard, near Cattleman Road and also fled. Two other vehicles were damaged in that incident. 

On June 27, FHP investigators arrested Martinez and said he was behind the wheel in both crashes. He was booked into the Sarasota County Jail.

Martinez was not injured. The driver and passenger of the Chevy Tahoe received minor injuries.