When two home invasion suspects saw a news traffic helicopter, one of them allegedly stepped on gas, they tore through a busy Orlando intersection, and caused a four-car pile-up that left three drivers hospitalized.
Investigators said the suspects -- 21-year-old Darrius Lowe and 20-year-old David Williams -- hit speeds of more than 70 mph and were weaving in and out of traffic when they reached the intersection of East Colonial drive and Orange Avenue on Wednesday, according to WFTV.com.
Deputies allege the two men were involved in a home invasion off Alafaya Trail in East Orange County that same day, according to the TV station.
Investigators instead believe that the two suspects mistook the news helicopter for a pursuing police chopper.
"They fled of their own volition, at high rates of speed. Our feeling is that what they thought was a law enforcement aircraft," Jeff Williamson, of the Orange County Sheriff's Office, told WFTV.
The Toyota zig-zagged toward downtown and stopped abruptly when it crashed into several vehicles just outside the Orlando Sentinel building, reported the Orlando Sentinel.
Eyewitness Gina Nielsen, who was outside with her mother and baby when the crash happened, said she couldn't believe what she saw.
"[The suspects] went through the light and went through the cars and smashed these poor people upIt looked more like a war zone rather than a busy intersection with people lying on the ground," she told MyFoxOrlando.com.
"My mom started running towards the car. She couldn't get close enough. It was too much smoke and too much glass."
Right after the crash, the man behind the wheel got out of the car and was surrounded by deputies with their guns drawn. He and the passenger were both taken into custody and deputies say they sustained non-life threatening injuries and were taken to a local hospital by Orlando Fire Rescue, the paper reports.
"It's really unbelievable. I'm glad my girlfriend and my two pets are OK," said Matt Persing, whose two dogs fled the scene, but were later found uninjured, according to WESH.com.
"It's horrific. It's amazing that I'm able to talk to you today."