Accident – Death – Obituary News :
An Orlando man who fled the country to avoid going to trial for driving drunk and causing a crash that left two people seriously injured will finally be punished, more than 15 years later.
The incident took place on May 20, 2006, on Interstate 4 in Polk County, Florida, just to the west of State Road 559.
Troopers from the Florida Highway Patrol arrived at the scene to find a white 2006 Jaguar on the shoulder of the roadway that appeared to be split in half, and an orange Honda Element overturned on its roof.
FHP crash investigators determined that the Jaguar had been traveling eastbound on I-4 and “failed to maintain a single lane.”
The Jaguar driver, identified as then 27-year-old Faisal Javaid of Orlando, overcorrected and lost control of the car, crossing the median into westbound traffic where it collided with the Honda.
The impact of the crash sheared the Jaguar in half and left the Honda on its roof, with the occupants sustaining “life-altering” injuries.
Faisal Javaid was thrown from his car and received treatment from Polk County EMS, while the occupants of the Honda were taken to the hospital for treatment.
During the investigation, troopers found that Javaid was possibly impaired at the time of the crash, leading them to draw his blood, which revealed a blood-alcohol content level more than one and a half times beyond the legal limit.
Charges were filed against Javaid for driving under the influence with serious bodily injury, and the case was set for trial in 2008.
However, Javaid fled the country to Pakistan and Kenya, evading justice for over a decade.
In May of 2023, Javaid returned to the United States via Orlando International Airport and was arrested on a warrant for failing to appear in court.
After nearly 18 years, a Polk County jury found Javaid guilty of two counts of DUI with serious bodily injury. He now faces up to 10 years in state prison, with his sentencing scheduled for May 15.
This case serves as a reminder that justice may be delayed, but it eventually catches up with those who try to evade responsibility for their actions.
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