Child Discovered in Stolen Car That Crashes in Police Chase

The driver of a stolen car with a 2-year-old child inside crashed into a PSTA bus in St. Petersburg Monday afternoon after he was pursued by Gulfport police.

Both the driver and child were rushed to the hospital as "trauma alerts," according to police. There was another passenger in the car who fled the scene after the crash, police said.

There were six people on the PSTA bus with one passenger taken to the hospital. Police said no one had visible injuries.

Gulfport Police Chief Rob Vincent spoke at a press conference Monday evening, at the intersection of 12th Avenue South and 25th Street South.

He said the driver of the stolen car, 21-year-old Derrick Mims, is being charged with grand theft auto and fleeing and alluding police.

Gulfport police had chased a stolen vehicle into St. Petersburg, when the vehicle crashed into a PSTA bus and damaged a building in Jordan Park.

The 2-year-old child was transported to All Children's Hospital and is listed in stable condition at this time. Police said they did not know a child was in the car during the pursuit.

Vincent said the passenger in the vehicle fled the scene after the car collided with the bus. That suspect is described as a black male in his 20s wearing a baseball hat, red T-shirt and blue jean shorts.

CORRECTION: The name of the driver was spelled incorrectly in the original version.