ARCADIA, Fla. (AP) – The head of the state commission that regulates Florida’s $9 billion citrus industry was killed in a crash with a stolen Jeep that was being chased by police.

Florida Citrus Commission Chairman Walter Brewer, 43, was trapped inside his burning sport utility vehicle and died late Thursday. Two sons, ages 10 and 13, were able to escape.

Brewer was appointed to a six-year term on the commission by Gov. Jeb Bush in 1999. He had just been re-elected chairman by fellow commissioners.

The commission oversees the Florida Citrus Department and its $65 million budget, and regulates Florida’s citrus industry. Florida is the nation’s No. 1 orange producer.

During Brewer’s chairmanship, the industry confronted some of its biggest challenges, including lagging grapefruit sales, disputes over tariffs on orange juice imports, and an outbreak of crop-destroying citrus canker.

Brewer, a lawyer, was a third-generation citrus grower.

The driver of the stolen Jeep also was killed and a passenger critically injured in the head-on crash about 60 miles southeast of Tampa.

AP-ES-08-01-03 1438EDT