Executive Summary
- Anna Giza, 52, is held on $3.5 million bond following a fatal police chase in Broward County.
- The pursuit began after Giza allegedly struck police vehicles in a stolen Ford F-250.
- One civilian motorist was killed in the crash on Florida’s Turnpike near Mile Marker 58.
- Charges include felony murder, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, and grand theft auto.
A Broward County judge set bond at more than $3.5 million on Saturday for a woman accused of causing a fatal crash while fleeing law enforcement in a stolen pickup truck along Florida’s Turnpike, according to court records.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) reported that the incident began Thursday afternoon when deputies assisted the Coconut Creek Police Department with an investigation into a stolen vehicle near Fort Lauderdale. Authorities stated that the driver, later identified as 52-year-old Anna Giza, struck a marked BSO unit and a Coconut Creek police cruiser near Sample Road before fleeing onto the southbound lanes of the Turnpike.
Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) troopers joined the pursuit, utilizing precision immobilization techniques, known as PIT maneuvers, in an attempt to stop the vehicle. Officials noted that the driver posed an "imminent threat" to public safety during the chase. The pursuit concluded near Mile Marker 58 in a severe collision involving the stolen white Ford F-250 and a civilian sedan. Investigators confirmed that one person in the sedan died at the scene. Video footage from the aftermath showed the sedan crushed and the pickup truck impacted against a concrete barrier.
According to a BSO spokesperson, the two officers whose vehicles were struck during the initial engagement were treated at area hospitals for non-life-threatening injuries. Giza was also transported to a hospital for treatment following her arrest. Jail records indicate she faces multiple charges, including murder by another while engaged in a felony, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, aggravated fleeing with serious injury or death, and grand theft auto. Investigators alleged that Giza provided false names and birth dates upon detention.
It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Judicial Proceedings & Legal Ramifications
The imposition of a $3.5 million bond reflects the legal gravity of the "murder by another while engaged in a felony" charge. Under Florida statutes, a defendant can be held criminally liable for a death that occurs during the commission of a forcible felony, such as aggravated fleeing or grand theft, even if the death was not premeditated. As the case moves toward arraignment, prosecutors are expected to rely on dashcam evidence and crash reconstruction data to substantiate the claim that the defendant’s actions constituted a direct and deadly threat to the public, justifying the high bond amount and the severity of the charges.
