Karina Elissa Diaz, 29, of Holiday, was arrested on October 22, 2026, following a police pursuit involving three law enforcement agencies in Pasco County. Booking photograph courtesy of Pasco County Corrections.
PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — A police pursuit involving three law enforcement agencies in Pasco County ended with a crash along the Suncoast Parkway after authorities deployed stop sticks and attempted to bring a fleeing vehicle to a stop.
The driver, identified as 29-year-old Karina Elissa Diaz of Holiday, was taken into custody following the October 22 incident.
New information obtained directly by The Pasco Signal from Florida Highway Patrol Sergeant Steve Gaskins details how the pursuit unfolded, beginning with a vehicle that reportedly fled from New Port Richey Police and ending approximately 2.5 miles after an FHP trooper assumed the lead position.
A review of official Pasco County Corrections booking records also identified multiple criminal charges recorded in connection with the October 22 arrest, including felony fleeing-or-eluding offenses and aggravated assault on specified personnel.
Pursuit Involves Three Law Enforcement Agencies
According to Sergeant Gaskins, the incident began when a vehicle fled from the New Port Richey Police Department during an earlier traffic stop.
By approximately 2:23 a.m. on October 22, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office had requested assistance from the Florida Highway Patrol regarding the fleeing vehicle near Ridge Road and Town Center Road.
At the time of the request, Pasco Deputies were actively pursuing the vehicle.
During the pursuit, Deputies deployed stop sticks, which successfully deflated the vehicle’s tires. Despite the tire damage, the driver continued fleeing.
Driver Fails to Comply During Attempted Felony Traffic Stop
FHP troopers responded to the area of Ridge Road and State Road 589, also known as the Suncoast Parkway.
According to the information provided to The Pasco Signal, Trooper Dion observed the pursuit taking place east of State Road 589 and began traveling eastbound along Ridge Road.
The driver then made a U-turn, heading back toward the parkway before entering the northbound entrance ramp.
Authorities said the vehicle slowed to a stop, prompting Pasco Deputies and Trooper Dion to attempt a felony traffic stop.
However, the driver allegedly failed to comply with commands and continued northbound onto State Road 589.
Trooper Dion subsequently assumed the lead position in the pursuit, following the vehicle for approximately 2.5 miles.
Pursuit Ends After Vehicle Strikes Median Cable Barrier
The pursuit came to an end when the driver lost control of the vehicle, traveled off the left side of the roadway, and struck a center median cable barrier.
The vehicle came to a final rest following the collision.
Pasco Deputies then took the driver into custody without further incident.
Authorities identified the driver as Karina Elissa Diaz, 29, of Holiday.
Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and evaluated Diaz, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
She was subsequently transported to an area hospital for further medical care.
Jail Records Detail Multiple Felony Charges Following Pursuit
Sergeant Gaskins also confirmed that signs of possible impairment were observed following the incident.
According to FHP, the New Port Richey Police Department advised that it intended to pursue charges related to driving under the influence and fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement.
The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office also advised that it intended to pursue criminal charges related to fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement.
A subsequent review of Pasco County Corrections’ official inmate records provides additional information about the charges recorded against Diaz following her arrest.
The jail records identify the following six charge entries under October 22 arrest reports:
New Port Richey Police Department — Court Case 2026CF004859
- Driving under the influence, a misdemeanor.
- Fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement with emergency lights and siren activated, a felony.
New Port Richey Police Department — Court Case 2026CF004860
- Aggravated assault on specified personnel, a felony.
- Fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement with disregard for the safety of persons or property, a felony.
Pasco County Sheriff’s Office — Court Case 2026CF004861
- Possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, a felony.
Florida Highway Patrol — Court Case 2026CF004867
- Fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement with emergency lights and siren activated, a felony.
The records therefore show three separate felony fleeing-or-eluding charge entries among the October 22 cases.
The aggravated assault allegation is also listed in the booking records. However, the information provided by FHP does not describe the specific circumstances underlying that charge.
The Pasco Signal has not independently established which actions allegedly led to the aggravated assault allegation.
Additional Charges Appear Under Separate Court Case
The inmate records also display two additional charge entries associated with an October 23 arrest entry under court case 2026CF003806:
- Possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, a felony.
- Possession or use of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.
The booking information lists both entries with bond amounts of $0 and notes indicating that bond was revoked at advisement.
Because these entries appear under a separate case number, The Pasco Signal has not established that those allegations originated from the October 22 pursuit.
Altogether, the records reviewed show eight charge entries across the displayed cases, including six felony entries and two misdemeanor entries.
These are charges reflected in the county’s booking system. The records do not independently establish whether prosecutors have subsequently amended, consolidated, dismissed, or formally filed every listed count.
Diaz is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Editor’s Note
This report is based on information provided directly to The Pasco Signal on October 25, 2026, by Sergeant Steve Gaskins, Public Affairs Officer for the Florida Highway Patrol, along with publicly accessible booking records from Pasco County Corrections.
The pursuit timeline, law enforcement response, and crash circumstances are attributed to FHP’s official account. The criminal charges listed in this article reflect entries displayed in the county’s inmate records at the time of review and should not be interpreted as convictions or confirmation of final prosecutorial decisions.
The Pasco Signal will continue reviewing available records and seeking additional information from the agencies involved.
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