Baby Dies From Car Crash Injuries: Police

LAKELAND, FL — The 10-month-old baby involved in a Tuesday morning crash near the 1000 block of George Jenkins Boulevard died late Tuesday afternoon, the Lakeland Police Department said in a news release.

Information on the mother's current condition was not provided by the Lakeland Police Department.

Police said the 19-year-old Lakeland woman and her 10-month-old baby were airlifted to a Tampa hospital early Tuesday after a driver in a stolen vehicle tried to avoid a traffic stop and crashed into their car.

The pursuit began before midnight and the crash happened shortly after midnight Tuesday in the 1000 block of George Jenkins Blvd.

A Lakeland police officer attempted to stop a stolen Infiniti authorities say was driven by Stephen Marra, 21, on Martin Luther King Boulevard.

Marra accelerated, and a police pursuit began, said officials.

The police chase continued eastbound onto George Jenkins Boulevard, and police say as the Infiniti crossed the intersection of Sloan Avenue, the vehicle got into the westbound lanes of George Jenkins Boulevard, but drove in the eastbound direction.

Investigators said as the Infiniti drove uphill and negotiated the road's curve, a white Nissan Altima driven by the 19-year-old was westbound in the inside lane of George Jenkins Boulevard.

As the Infiniti was in the apex of the curve, it collided with the Nissan in a near head-on collision, said deputies.

The 10-month-old baby was in a car seat in the backseat of the Nissan.

The mother and baby were taken to a local hospital, then airlifted with serious injuries to a hospital in Tampa, said authorities.

Marra was taken to a Lakeland hospital with serious injuries, officials said.

The name of the victims will not be released by the Lakeland Police Department due to Marsy's Law.