TAMPA - A 35-year-old Tampa man with a history of fleeing police died this morning in a crash as authorities followed him a few blocks behind.

Shannon J. Wiggins, of 1804 E. 20th Ave., died near Cypress Street and North Armenia Avenue shortly after midnight. Wiggins drove a white Pontiac through a red light, hitting two other cars and a light pole, police said.

The drivers of the other cars, Charles Zummo, 51, and Ricky Davenport, 40, were both injured.

Zummo was treated at the scene for his injuries, and said he is sore but fine. Davenport was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where he is in stable condition.

"I got out of the car and the police were saying, 'Get down, get down,' with guns drawn," Zummo said.

According to police, an officer in an unmarked car began following Wiggins' car after seeing it run a stop sign in the Belmont Heights area just after midnight. When the officer tried to pull over the car two blocks away, the driver fled.

The officer waited for the car to pull away, then followed it onto Interstate 4. Police believe the driver was not aware an unmarked police car was following him.

The officer continued to follow the car as the driver made his way to Tampa International Airport, exiting and then returning to Interstate 275, then exiting again at Spruce Street.

Police also monitored Wiggins by air, police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said.

When the driver saw another police car at Cypress Street and West Shore Boulevard, he sped up and fled, police said. Yet another police car began to follow the driver when he ran a red light at Cypress and Dale Mabry Highway. With the two police cars following, the driver ran the light at Cypress and Armenia, hitting the other two cars and the pole.

Officers arrived 20 to 30 seconds later, indicating they had been about a quarter-mile behind Wiggins when he crashed, McElroy said.

Wiggins, who is known by the street name "Rat," was released from prison in February.

He was arrested July 5 on charges of fleeing and eluding police and driving with a revoked license. He also was arrested Aug. 5 on charges of fleeing and eluding police, reckless driving, driving with a revoked license and obstructing or opposing an officer without violence.

Those cases are pending.

Wiggins previously has been convicted of trafficking in cocaine, grand theft motor vehicle, leaving the scene of a crash and fleeing and eluding police.

The investigation continues.

**** IN "HONOR" OF HIS HABIT OF FLEEING AND ELUDING SHANNON'S HOMIES FROM THE HOOD CHOSE TO BURY HIM IN A CAR CASKET!!!! FULLY EQUIPPED WITH A STEERING WHEEL, GAUGES, AND 26 INCH RIMS!!!!! *****

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