BSO launches investigation into whether violent crash that killed 2 involved police chase

After a chain-reaction three-car crash that killed two people, the Broward Sheriff’s Office is conducting an internal investigation to determine whether any deputies were chasing one of the drivers who crashed.

Gavin Dorvil, 19, of Lauderdale Lakes, was speeding in a 2023 Tesla Model 3 west on Northwest Sixth Street, approaching the intersection of Northwest 27th Avenue shortly before 4 p.m. Sunday, according to the Sheriff’s Office. At the same time, a 2023 Dodge Durango was heading south on Northwest 27th Avenue, approaching the same intersection west of Fort Lauderdale.

Dorvil crashed into the driver’s side of the Dodge, forcing both cars southwest, the Sheriff’s Office said. The Dodge then crashed into a 2024 Chevrolet Trax that was stopped on Northwest 6th Street at the intersection, flipping the Chevrolet upside down.

The force continued to move the Tesla and Dodge southwest, where the cars crashed through a fence around the Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens Central cemetery, the Sheriff’s Office said. Everyone in the three cars, a total of five people, was taken to Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale.

Lisa Jackson, the driver of the Dodge, and her passenger Geraldine Francis were pronounced dead at the hospital, the Sheriff’s Office said. A minor girl who was also riding in the Dodge was in critical condition.

The Sheriff’s Office did not provide the condition of the driver of the Chevrolet, Jasmyne Thomas, or Dorvil’s condition.

Carey Codd, a Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, said in an email Tuesday to the South Florida Sun Sentinel that deputies found a gun at the crash scene that they believe came from the Tesla.

Traffic Homicide Unit detectives asked that Internal Affairs representatives “determine if any BSO units were pursuing the Tesla prior to the crash,” Codd said. Internal Affairs representatives came to the scene and began reviewing, he said.

“The investigation into the circumstances of the crash is ongoing as is an administrative review of the incident by (Internal Affairs) to determine if any deputies were pursuing the Tesla,” Codd said.

A witness shared a video on Facebook shortly after the crash that showed the mangled Dodge and Tesla stopped at the edge of the cemetery as many bystanders watched people attempt to rescue the people inside the Dodge.

Multiple men could be seen reaching into the Dodge, and two people were removed and laid down on the cemetery lawn. Two deputies were seen pulling a young man from the passenger’s side of the destroyed Tesla.

Separately, several West Palm Beach Police officers are under investigation after a deadly crash in Boynton Beach in late July. A 23-year-old man crashed into a car while speeding on North Congress Avenue, killing a mother and daughter, police said.

Mike Jachles, a spokesperson for West Palm Beach Police, said in a statement Aug. 1 that the department began an Internal Affairs investigation of the “circumstances surrounding” the crash and that the “involved officers” on administrative leave.