Tampa Injury News

Fill out the form
to speak to an
Injury Lawyer Now.

Passenger In Fleeing Car Killed After Crashing Into Police Car

October 4, 2005

An Englewood woman died after police chased the car she was riding in down U.S. 41 at speeds exceeding 75 mph. Sarasota police say they called off the chase three minutes before the fleeing vehicle crashed into a police car, killing Aran Giddis, 28. The Sarasota Police Department refused to release radio transmissions of the chase, saying the crash is still under investigation.

The driver of the car, Gary V. Moreland, 27, of Port Charlotte, was arrested and charged with DUI manslaughter. An officer was also injured in the crash, which occurred in a quiet neighborhood near Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Police spokesman Jay Frank said it was simply a coincidence that a police car was involved in the crash and another had pulled into the neighborhood behind Moreland's car.

Todd Perna, the officer injured in the crash, had no idea Moreland's car was headed his way, Frank said. Perna and another officer were returning to their normal patrol areas after responding to a domestic disturbance call in the 2100 block of Clematis Street, Frank said. 'He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time,' Frank said. Moreland 'was lost and we didn't know where he was.'

The chase started shortly before 3 a.m. when officers saw Moreland speeding near Fourth Street and Orange Avenue, police said. They pursued him to Hillview Street and Osprey Avenue. At that point, a sergeant called off the chase because the speed had exceeded 75 mph and there was too much other traffic, Frank said. The officers in pursuit lost sight of the car, he said.

Moreland collided with Perna's car after driving through a stop sign at East Avenue and Wisteria Street, Frank said. Moreland's car struck the front passenger side of Perna's squad car, then hit a parked car and rolled over, Frank said. Giddis, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was trapped inside the car. Moreland walked away from the crash and was treated for injuries at Sarasota Memorial. Perna was treated for minor injuries and will return to work today, Frank said. Moreland told doctors he drank beer and used cocaine before the crash, according to a police report.

Frank said police do not know what the relationship was between Giddis and Moreland. 'All we know is she was the passenger,' Frank said. Giddis had three daughters, ages 6, 9 and 10, said her mother, Terri Riber of Englewood. Giddis had known Moreland for just two weeks, Riber said. She blames Moreland for killing her daughter. 'Someone takes my daughter 100 miles an hour down the road, clips the right side and there is nothing left; you tell me what that is.'

Moreland faces six DUI charges from the crash, including DUI manslaughter. He also faces a charge of attempting to flee law enforcement and habitually driving with a revoked license. His criminal history includes convictions for selling cocaine and eluding a law enforcement officer in 2004.