LAKE MARY, Fla. – A student has been arrested after a video posted online showed them driving recklessly with someone on the roof of a car in the parking lot of Lake Mary High School on Wednesday, according to the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said they received a call at 1:30 p.m. about a “reckless driving accident” on campus at the high school during dismissal.
The video posted on social media shows the car making a wide turn and speeding ahead — leaving tire marks in the process — as another student rides on the roof of the vehicle.
According to an arrest report, 18-year-old Hunter Hampton had “excessively accelerated his vehicle out of its parking space and into the travel lane at a high rate of speed.”
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The video then shows that vehicle making another turn before losing control and crashing into a parked car, which in turn damaged two other vehicles.
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While there were no injuries, Hampton was taken into custody, deputies said.
“The incident that occurred at Lake Mary High School on Wednesday is simply unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma said. “Not only was this event wreckless, but it was also an incredibly dangerous activity that put multiple lives in immediate danger. The end of the school year is a time of the year we often see stunts like these increase. We will have zero tolerance for these incidents, and individuals who engage in activities like this should expect severe consequences, including arrests from school resource deputies and officers. Along with our partners at SCPS, we will ensure that Seminole County schools remain safe for students, faculty, staff, and families.”
Seminole County Public Schools Communications Officer Katherine Crnkovich issued a statement following the crash, which reads:
Dear Ram Families and Students,
I wanted to let you know about an incident in our parking lot that occurred a short while ago. It was brought to our attention that two students engaged in an incredibly reckless display of driving with one student driving a vehicle, and the other riding on top of the roof of that moving car. Not only was this incredibly dangerous for both parties, but also for those in or near the parking lot. The car crashed into another parked vehicle which subsequently damaged two other cars in the process. Law enforcement is on the scene and proper disciplinary actions are underway.
This behavior is not acceptable. These types of behaviors can lead to serious injury and harm to persons and property and are unnecessary. If your child is a driver, please take a moment to speak with them about the importance of safety in vehicles especially when driving on a school campus where others are nearby.
Additionally, we encourage students who see something to say something to protect those who would potentially end up hurt or dead because of poor decisions.
If you have any questions, please know I am here to speak with you.
Hampton faces charges for reckless driving and culpable negligence.
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