Melbourne Police Traffic Homicide Investigation Underway After 26-Year-Old Man Dies in Vehicle Crash

Rashaad Anthony Cox of Melbourne was killed

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – The Melbourne Police Traffic Enforcement Unit is investigating a vehicle crash in which 26-year-old Rashaad Anthony Cox of Melbourne was killed on Thursday.

According to Melbourne Police Sgt. Daniel Desormier, the incident began when a Melbourne Police officer observed a vehicle traveling recklessly at a high rate of speed westbound over the Melbourne Causeway.

“The officer made a U-turn in an attempt to conduct a traffic stop on the reckless vehicle,” said Sgt. Desormier.

“The suspect vehicle had already traveled west over North Harbor City Boulevard before the officer could initiate a traffic stop and struck a fixed object.”

Sgt. Desormier said that officers immediately discovered the vehicle involved in the crash was the same vehicle observed traveling west over the Melbourne Causeway moments earlier.

“The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle had lost control of the vehicle and left the roadway striking a wooden utility pole on the north side of Strawbridge Avenue,” said Sgt. Desormier.

Cox sustained life-threatening injuries as a result of the crash and succumbed to those injuries.

“The initial investigation reveals the vehicle driver was operating the vehicle in a careless manner traveling westbound over the Melbourne Causeway,” said Sgt. Desormier.

“It appears alcohol/drugs may be a factor in this crash. The crash is still under investigation.”

The Traffic Enforcement Unit is currently investigating this crash as a Traffic Homicide Investigation. If you have any information regarding this investigation, please call Traffic Homicide Investigator Officer Koubek at 321-608-6612.

Similar Stories