Bystanders have captured the shocking moment a man being pursued by police drove his car into a lake with his two young children in the backseat.
The incident occurred in Pasco County, Florida on Thursday afternoon after an officer tried to stop the vehicle for a window tint violation on Highway 19. The driver instead attempted to flee the scene, causing the cop to commence a high-speed chase.
Dashcam video released by the Pasco County Sheriff's Department shows the gold sedan turning off the highway and speeding through suburban streets in a bid to outpace police.
However, the driver soon realizes he will not be able to evade capture and instead accelerates into a lake located in the middle of a housing estate. Witnesses who were standing on the side of the road filmed the vehicle as it landed in the water and started to sink.
Thankfully, nearby witnesses managed to quickly come to the aid of the children to help them out of the water.
30-year old Jonathan DeLoach, the driver, was reportedly a drug dealer with several warrants. Police placed him under arrest after he returned to land. He is being charged with child abuse, possession of methamphetamine, driving with a suspended license, and reckless driving.
Source: DailyMail.co.uk