Pasco Driver Charged With Running Car Off Road

SPRING HILL, FL – A New Port Richey resident has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and vehicle theft after reportedly tailgating and forcing another car off the road.

According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, Makayla Payne was driving home from a friend’s house on State Road 52 in Spring Hill around 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16, when a white Jeep Cherokee began tailgating her. Payne said she accelerated to get away but the Cherokee also increased its speed. The Jeep then passed her and slowed down. Payne went around the Jeep, which began tailgating her again. Finally, the Jeep pulled up next to her at the intersection of SR 52 and Deerbrook Boulevard and swerved into her car, forcing both vehicles off the road. The Jeep flipped onto its passenger side.

Payne ran to a Mobil gas station on SR 52 where she called for help.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers and Pasco Sheriff’s deputies found discovered the overturned Jeep had been stolen.

At around 3 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 17, deputies made a routine traffic stop on Little Road in New Port Richey. The driver, Mitchell Dean Francis, 26, of 8957 Crescent Forest Blvd., New Port Richey, was arrested for driving under the influence. Deputies were able to identify Francis as the driver of the Jeep and also charged him with the additional aggravated battery and auto theft counts.

Photo via Pasco County Sheriff's Office