Man Charged With Fleeing Scene of Crash

Curt Lee Rud, 29, of Venice, was driving near the intersection of Main Street and Bayfront Drive in Sarasota at about 2 a.m. Saturday morning when he drove his vehicle in the wrong direction, southbound into the northbound lanes into oncoming traffic, hitting a taxi cab, head on, owned by Yellow Cab, with five people inside. Rud fled the scene on foot but was apprehended by law enforcement that happened to see him fleeing the scene of the crash.

James M. Elias, a passanger of the cab, from Acushnet, MA died from his injuries sustained in the crash.

Traffic homicide investigators with the Sarasota Police Department are continuing to investigate this incident; additional charges for Rud are possible based on the outcome of the investigation.

Officers evaluated Rud for driving under the influence but he did not show signs of impairment. The Sarasota Police Department received the following updates and conditions regarding the five people inside the taxi cab late Saturday afternoon:

1. James M. Elias of Acushnet, MA
DOB 10-8-1962
Transported to Blake Medical Center where he died from his injuries Saturday
morning

2. Brian Krach of Sarasota, FL (cab driver)
DOB 3-28-1970
Stable at Sarasota Memorial

3. Kimberly Senna of Acushnet, MA
DOB – 7-1-1970
Transported to Blake Medical Center as trauma, stable and in the Intensive
Care Unit

4. Lori Elias of Acushnet, MA
DOB – 6-9-1964
Transported to Sarasota Memorial Hospital for minor injuries

5. Lisa Alves of Acushnet, MA
DOB – 9-1-1964
Transported to Sarasota Memorial for ankle fractures