Two Dead, Officer Injured in Ocala Crashes: James Thompson Jr., Kristopher Kent Winningham

A tragic series of events unfolded in Ocala, Florida on Saturday night, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and leaving a police officer seriously injured. According to law enforcement officials, the first crash occurred at approximately 10:26 p.m. at the intersection of South Pine Avenue and SW 17th Street.

Reports indicate that a driver traveling eastbound on SW 17th Street disregarded traffic signals and collided with both a pedestrian and a parked patrol car before fleeing from the scene. The pedestrian, identified as James Thompson Jr., aged 26, was rushed to a nearby hospital but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries.

In an attempt to apprehend the hit-and-run driver responsible for Thompson's death, police pursued him further eastbound along SE Maricamp Road. As they approached an officer who was stationed in the grass median near the 3000 block and preparing to deploy stop sticks, tragedy struck once again.

The pursued driver intentionally crashed head-on into the parked cruiser while the officer remained inside. Law enforcement authorities have described this act as appearing intentional. Both vehicles sustained significant damage from this collision.

The hit-and-run driver has been identified as Kristopher Kent Winningham, aged 44. Following his arrest by law enforcement officers at the scene of the second crash, he was immediately transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. Winningham later passed away due to his injuries sustained during these incidents.

Meanwhile, the police officer who had been inside their vehicle during this intentional collision also suffered serious injuries requiring immediate medical attention. They were promptly taken to a nearby hospital where they are currently receiving treatment.

This devastating chain of events has left Ocala residents shocked and saddened by such senseless acts resulting in loss of life and injury within their community. Authorities continue their investigation into both crashes while offering support services for those affected by these tragic incidents.

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