Santa Rosa County, Fla. – A high‑speed street race on Avalon Boulevard erupted into a violent clash with law‑enforcement officers on Tuesday, resulting in minor injuries to three sheriff’s deputies and the arrest of two drivers.

Deputies intervene as racers exceed 100 mph

According to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy observed two vehicles traveling at speeds over 100 mph and initiated a traffic stop. While the deputy was standing beside a patrol car, one of the drivers, 28‑year‑old Preston Matthew Neal, attempted to drive his vehicle toward the officer.

Neal refused to exit his vehicle when ordered to do so. When deputies moved to remove him, he violently resisted, sparking a physical altercation. The confrontation left three deputies with minor injuries that were treated on‑scene.

Charges filed against the drivers

Neal now faces a series of serious charges, including attempted second‑degree murder, aggravated assault, battery, driving under the influence, two counts of resisting an officer, dangerous excessive speeding, and a moving traffic violation.

The second driver, identified as Katrina Summer Ryan, was also taken into custody. Ryan is charged with street racing, speeding in excess of 100 mph, reckless endangerment, and resisting an officer without violence.

Community safety concerns

Street racing poses a significant danger to residents and law‑enforcement personnel alike. The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office emphasized that such reckless behavior endangers public safety and will be met with aggressive enforcement.

Deputy Chief Mark H. Wilson of the sheriff’s office said, “We will not tolerate anyone who puts the lives of our officers or the public at risk. This incident underscores the importance of community vigilance and strict adherence to traffic laws.”

What residents can do

Authorities encourage anyone who witnesses illegal racing or other dangerous driving to report the activity immediately by calling 911 or the sheriff’s non‑emergency line. Prompt reporting helps officers intervene before situations escalate.

Local officials also urge residents to support safe‑driving initiatives and to consider alternative, legal venues for motorsport enthusiasts, such as sanctioned track days, which provide a controlled environment for high‑performance driving.

Ongoing investigation

The investigation remains active, and the sheriff’s office will continue to pursue all leads related to the incident. Additional details will be released as they become available.

Original reporting: FOX10 WALA Mobile (news) — read the source article.