Michael Jerome Austin dies in fatal Palmetto rollover crash

Michael Jerome Austin dies in fatal Palmetto rollover crash
Fatal Palmetto rollover crash death of Michael Jerome Austin – Obituary

Michael Jerome Austin, an 18‑year‑old from Ruskin, lost his life Monday night when the vehicle he was driving overturned during a collision in Palmetto. Deputies from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office had been tracking the stolen car that Austin was operating when the incident occurred.

According to law enforcement, officials were alerted to a stolen Honda Accord from Hillsborough County heading south on U.S. 41 into Palmetto shortly before 8 p.m. Police located the vehicle and confirmed it had been reported stolen, prompting a pursuit.

As additional units joined the effort, deputies attempted to stop the Honda in the 1000 block of U.S. 41. The driver initially slowed but then abruptly turned around at the intersection of 7th Street and U.S. 41, heading east onto 17th Street East.

About a half‑mile ahead of the pursuing deputies, the stolen car struck the rear of another vehicle in the 1800 block of 17th Street East. The force of the impact caused the Honda to spin out of control and roll multiple times.

Emergency responders extracted Austin from the wreckage; he was unresponsive and transported to a nearby hospital. He was pronounced dead at approximately 9:12 p.m. The other driver, a 24‑year‑old woman, was treated for minor injuries at the same hospital.

Austin’s passing is being investigated by local authorities as part of the broader crash inquiry.