South FL Driver Wanted To Go To Jail, Hit Trooper On Purpose: FHP

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — A South Florida driver intentionally crashed his car into a state trooper’s cruiser on I-95 in Fort Lauderdale because he wanted to be taken to jail.

Tate Turner, 25, of Boca Raton drove into Trooper Bernex Vincent’s vehicle early Wednesday around 1:30 a.m., according to an arrest report from the Florida Highway Patrol.

Vincent, who was working an off-duty detail in a construction zone, was parked in the right northbound lane of I-95 just south of I-595 at the time of the crash. The left center, right center and right lanes were all closed because of the active construction zone and only the left lane was open. The trooper had his emergency lights to show that he was parked in a closed lane.

Turner ignored the lights, barricades and signs, driving through them and hitting the back of his patrol car.

Vincent left his car to speak with Turner, who didn’t seem to be injured but stayed silent for several minutes.

The driver “then spontaneously stated that he struck the patrol vehicle on purpose. He stated he intentionally struck the patrol vehicle so he could be taken to jail,” according to the arrest report.

Turner, who has never been arrested, also told troopers that he wanted to go to jail because he “felt like he was already in jail.”

When asked why he wanted to go to jail, he told troopers, “It’s a bunch of things.”

Troopers said that Turner didn’t seem to be impaired, the report said. He also told them that he hadn’t taken drugs or alcohol.

Vincent felt pain and soreness from the back of his head down to his neck and back following the crash.

Turner was charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was also issued a uniform traffic citation for driving around barricades.

He was brought to Broward General Medical Center, where he was cleared by the medical staff, and booked into Broward County Jail.