2 children inside car during 120-mph race on Manatee I-75

Two children, ages 2 and 4, were riding in the back seat of a car that reached more than 120 mph during an alleged street race on Interstate 75 in Manatee County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Read more 2026 Honda Ridgeline vs. Ford Maverick: 5 Key Differences Worth Knowing

Troopers said they witnessed a Dodge Charger and a Dodge Challenger racing side by side shortly after midnight Sept. 5.

The vehicles were initially traveling about 100 mph on northbound I-75 before both drivers slowed to approximately 50 mph, according to FHP.

The woman in the Charger’s front passenger seat then extended her hand from the window and used her arm to signal a “3, 2, 1, go” countdown. Both drivers accelerated side by side to more than 120 mph before troopers stopped them, FHP said.

Dashboard camera video released by FHP shows the two cars traveling side by side on the darkened interstate.

Troopers discovered the two children in the Charger’s back seat. Their mother was in the front passenger seat, while their father was driving, according to FHP.

Troopers arrested the Charger’s driver, 27-year-old Tomas Valencia Ortega of Wesley Chapel, and the Challenger’s driver, 27-year-old Joshua Alan York of Brandon. Both men were charged with street racing and dangerous excessive speeding, commonly called “super speeding.”

Read more Nvidia’s cash could reshape an AI cloud contender

Valencia Ortega also was charged with child neglect. The woman accused of signaling the start of the race, whom FHP did not identify, was charged with participating in a street race.

Both drivers were booked into the Hillsborough County Jail. The Florida Department of Children and Families was notified, FHP said.

The Charger and Challenger were impounded for 30 business days in accordance with Florida law.

Wade Tatangelo is the executive editor of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and Florida dining and entertainment editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X. He can be reached by email at [email protected]. Support local journalism by subscribing.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: 2 children inside car during 120-mph race on Manatee I-75

Read more Mitsubishi Pajero Hybrid May Put a US Montero Return Back in Play

Reporting by Wade Tatangelo, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

This story was originally published September 6, 2026 at 8:51 AM.