SARASOTA, Fla. — Surveillance cameras inside the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport captured the moment from three different angles when a Manatee County man plowed through the main terminal early Thursday.
- Juan Monsivis being treated after Thursday crash
- 2 employees jumped out of crash's way
- Florida Highway Patrol still investigating
"He never slowed down, went right through the cinderblock wall in baggage claim, took out the conveyor system and the wall," said Rick Piccolo, chief executive of the airport.
"If this happened during the day when there's a flight on the ground, there's a couple hundred people around the conveyor belt, and this could have been pretty catastrophic," he said.
The man in the driver's seat was Juan Monsivis, 40. Authorities say he breached airport security, barreled through a fence and a wall into the main terminal before crashing into a car rental counter.
Two employees behind that counter could be seen diving out of the way of the 3 a.m crash.
It's still unclear what caused the accident.
"Was this a medical issue?" asked Trooper Kenn Watson with Florida Highway Patrol. "Was this an issue where he lost control of the vehicle? Or perhaps he was fleeing from another scene."
"Once we find everything out, it's going to give us a better idea of what caused this event to happen in the first place," said Watson.
According to public records, Monsivis has a history of bad driving dating back to 2005. He has been charged with several DUIs and for driving on a suspended or expired license.
Monsivis is in a local hospital where he is being treated for injuries. Investigators plan to question him once his condition improves.