BUNNELL, Fla. — A police chase involving burglary suspects ended with an innocent driver dead Tuesday after a head-on crash in Flagler County, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. 

According to deputies, were alerted early in the morning that three suspects wanted in connection with vehicle burglaries in St. Johns County had entered Flagler County in a gray Chevrolet Suburban.

Around 12:30 p.m., deputies spotted the SUV speeding southbound on I-95. The suspects exited onto Old Dixie Highway, where deputies deployed Stop Sticks, but the vehicle was equipped with anti-deflating tires and continued fleeing.

The chase continued onto U.S. Highway 1, where deputies say the suspects weaved in and out of traffic and sideswiped a sheriff’s office vehicle. When the SUV turned onto an I-95 exit ramp, it collided head-on with another car.

The three suspects ran from the wreckage into a wooded area but were quickly caught by deputies. The driver of the other car was airlifted to a nearby hospital in critical condition and later died from their injuries. Their name has not yet been released.

“It is with great sadness, the actions of these dirtbags resulted in the tragic loss of an innocent life,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “This crime spree started in St. Johns County with vehicle burglaries and ended violently with the death of an innocent person.”

The Florida Highway Patrol is leading the traffic homicide investigation. The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office is handling the burglary cases, while FCSO is reviewing its deputies’ involvement in the pursuit.

First Coast News has reached out to SJSO for arrest reports related to this case.