WINTER GARDEN, Fla. — The West Orange Golf Cart Christmas Parade in Winter Garden had to be canceled Sunday after a driver nearly hit an officer, crashed into another vehicle and then fled on foot, investigators said.

The driver, later identified as Terryus Jorelle Baker, 27, is accused of driving toward downtown Winter Garden at a high rate of speed while officers were preparing to close toe roads for the parade just before 6 p.m., the Winter Garden Police Department said in a release. 

"An officer tried to slow the vehicle down, and the driver accelerated towards the officer, almost striking him," the release said. "The driver continued to accelerate, striking another vehicle traveling in the same direction."

When Baker's vehicle became disabled, he allegedly left a woman and two juveniles inside and fled the scene on foot. He was quickly apprehended by an off-duty officer from a different jurisdiction, investigators said. 

"There was a large crowd present for the parade, and thankfully there were no injuries in the crowd," the release said.

The driver of the second vehicle was taken to the hospital for minor injuries. 

According to police, Baker allegedly told officers that he ran from the scene because he had an active warrant for his arrest.

He was taken into custody and was charged with driving without a license, possession of narcotics without a prescription, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, child neglect and his outstanding warrant. 

The woman in the vehicle, Elizabeth Chavez, 24, was also arrested on an outstanding warrant, police said. 

The children in the vehicle were given to family members.

Because of the crash, officials said they had to cancel the rest of the parade.