Sanford crash turns into fight, theft and footchase on Upsala Road

A rear-end crash on Upsala Road in Sanford quickly turned into a fight, an alleged car theft and a footchase that ended with arrests. Sanford police said a red Kia hit the back of the victim’s vehicle, then the driver got out, fought with the other person involved, climbed into the victim’s car, took items from inside and ran.

The incident began around 2:30 p.m. on June 4 and moved far beyond the original crash scene before officers caught up with the suspects. Sanford police identified one suspect as Robert Lee Smith, 24, and said the suspects were being held in Orange County custody when the case was reported. Police also said the suspect’s car was later found in Orange County, adding another link between the Sanford crash scene and the search that followed.

The case did not stay confined to Sanford. Local broadcast reporting connected the Upsala Road confrontation to a separate crash in downtown Orlando later the same day, where two suspects were arrested after a vehicle pursuit and footchase. That sequence left investigators piecing together who was driving, what was taken and where the suspects went after leaving the crash scene.

For drivers and businesses near Upsala Road, the case is a blunt example of how fast a routine traffic collision can become a public-safety incident. A crash that starts with damaged bumpers can turn into a confrontation, a theft and a chase before bystanders have time to react, and that is what made this Sanford scene draw attention well beyond the traffic report.

Anyone seeking crash paperwork or other case records has a local point of contact at the Sanford Police Department Records Division in the Public Safety Building. The division is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and police say some reports may be exempt or redacted under Florida public records law.