Crime & Safety

Driver Who Caused Seven-Car Pile Up in June Arrested

A Clearwater man already in jail on drug charges was charged Wednesday, Oct. 31, for his involvement in a seven-car pile up that occurred in June at Enterprise and McMullen Booth Roads in Safety Harbor, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

A Clearwater man already in jail on drug charges was charged Wednesday, Oct. 31, for his involvement in a seven-car pile up that occurred in June in Safety Harbor, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

Saeed Ali Williams ran two red lights in a white BMW before causing a seven-car pile up at the intersection of Enterprise and McMullen Booth roads in Safety Harbor around midnight June 1, according to investigators.

Williams, 23, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injuries, aggravated fleeing and eluding and reckless driving resulting in injury, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Williams already was in Pinellas County Jail on possession of cocaine charges from Aug. 15.

Find out what's happening in Clearwaterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Early on in the investigation, deputies had information that Williams was the BMW driver," Marianne Pasha, sheriff’s spokeswoman, said in a release. "But the DNA evidence helped put him behind the wheel.” 

Here is how investigators got the DNA.

Find out what's happening in Clearwaterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Williams was heading westbound on Curlew Road in a white BMW when a deputy saw the vehicle make an illegal U-turn. When the deputy tried to make a traffic stop, the BMW fled. The deputy turned off the emergency lights and did not pursue the vehicle, according to investigators.

The BMW ran two red lights before causing the seven-car crash at the intersection of Enterprise and McMullen Booth roads just before midnight June 1. Several people were injured but there was no one seriously hurt in the pile up, according to officials. 

Williams fled the BMW and was not apprehended that night.

DNA samples were taken from the interior of the BMW, including “touch” evidence from the driver's side door airbag, according to investigators. This was submitted to the Combined DNA Index System to be analyzed and determined Williams was a match.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.