Reckless Driver Gets 10 Years

Fort Myers (January 14, 2025) – Today Bijaun Wayne Edwards was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by 5 years of probation, for a case involving reckless driving to avoid capture by law enforcement, that resulted in a crash involving children.

Assistant State Attorney Stephanie Russell, Lee County Circuit Court Chief, prosecuted the case.

Edwards was adjudicated guilty of:

• Aggravated Fleeing or Eluding
• Flee Elude Law Enforcement Officer at High Speed or Wanton Disregard
• Possession of Firearm, Ammunition, or Concealed Weapon by a Convicted Felon
• Leaving the Scene of a Crash (Attended Property)
• Reckless Driving – Damage Person/Property (2 counts)
• Burglary of an Occupied Conveyance
• Resisting/Obstructing an Officer without Violence
• Tampering with a Witness, Victim, or Informant (2 counts)
• Trafficking in Illegal Drugs – 7 grams or more
• Possession of Cannabis with Intent

On March 31, 2024, the defendant was driving a BMW on Lake Trafford Road in Collier County, when a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Trooper attempted to pull him over due to very dark tint on the vehicle.

Instead of stopping his car, the defendant sped up, driving erratically through the streets. FHP followed the defendant trying to get him to stop, but he ignored the lights and sirens. The defendant reached speeds of more than 140 miles per hour as he sped away crossing county lines into Hendry County and then Lee County. As he fled, he hit two other cars causing extensive damage.

He eventually drove into a convenience store parking lot in Lehigh Acres and crashed into a pick-up truck that was parked, with two children in the backseat. He then got out of his car and into the truck.

He told the victims in the truck to not say anything to troopers and act like they know him, and then threw cash onto the console. The children in the vehicle had been waiting for a family member who
had just gone into the store.

Troopers pulled into the parking lot a short time later and witnesses showed them where the defendant was and he was taken into custody. Inside the BMW, FHP Troopers found more than 4 pounds of marijuana, 100 Oxycodone pills, a Glock firearm, and $10,495 in cash.