U-Haul driver arrested after high-speed chase through Key Largo school zone

A high-speed pursuit through a Key Largo school zone ended with the arrest of a U-Haul driver near MM 85 on Jan. 7, authorities said. Deputies reported that the driver refused to stop, impeded traffic and sped through a marked school zone around MM 90 before finally stopping several miles south.

The arrested driver was identified as 29-year-old Idibek Jalilov of Boston. Deputies said Jalilov passed law enforcement, gave an obscene gesture while driving by, and only halted near MM 85, where officers took him into custody. He was booked at the Plantation Key jail. Florida Highway Patrol assisted Monroe County deputies, and no injuries were reported in the incident.

The stretch between MM 90 and MM 85 crosses through residential neighborhoods and near schools that are familiar to Keys commuters and parents. A high-speed chase through that corridor during school hours or drop-off and pickup windows has clear public safety consequences, increasing risk for students, bicyclists and drivers on the Overseas Highway. While this incident ended without physical harm, it underscores the hazards of pursuits that run through congested or sensitive areas.

Local law enforcement resources were tied up during the chase and subsequent arrest, with deputies and Florida Highway Patrol officers responding in coordination. For Monroe County residents, that response can mean both immediate traffic disruptions and a reminder of the balance agencies must strike between stopping dangerous driving and protecting bystanders. High-speed pursuits can also provoke community concern about pursuit policies and how to minimize danger to children and other road users.

The involvement of a rented U-Haul highlights another dimension: large vehicles behave differently at speed and in traffic, posing different risks than passenger cars. Motorists and parents should note the mile marker system that locals use for navigation, since MM 85 to MM 90 is a commonly referenced span in Key Largo and a frequent point of commuter congestion.

Our two cents? Keep an eye on drop-off and pickup routes near MM 85 to MM 90, report reckless driving to authorities when it's safe to do so, and press local leaders and school officials for clear plans to protect kids and reduce the risk of high-speed incidents near schools. Community vigilance and informed policy decisions can help prevent a close call from becoming a tragedy.