PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — A Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) trooper and a truck driver were killed Feb. 3 after the trooper followed a reckless driver who made an illegal U-turn into the opposite direction of Interstate 95, officials said.
The suspect initially got away and was chased by other troopers and deputies until he crashed into a tree and fled on foot. He was captured about five hours after the initial pursuit, following an extensive manhunt, authorities said.
A St. Lucie County deputy initially tried to stop the suspect because he was driving at twice the speed limit but disengaged several minutes later. Trooper Zachary Fink then picked up the pursuit, trying to stop the motorist out of concern he was endangering other drivers, said Col. Gary Howze, who heads the FHP.
After the suspect made an abrupt U-turn into the opposite direction of highway traffic, Fink followed, turning into the path of the tractor-trailer. The truck’s driver died at the scene, and the trooper was airlifted to a hospital, where he died, the agency said.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said on social media that “our hearts go out to” the trooper’s family and the Florida Highway Patrol.
Fink, 26, was a three-year highway patrol veteran, starting in Orlando before transferring to his hometown in the Port St. Lucie area. He’s survived by a fiancée and his parents, Howze said.
Several lanes of the major north-south highway were closed for most of the day because of the crash.
Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and raised in East Texas, John Worthen returned to his home state to attend college in 1998 and decided to make his life in The Natural State. Worthen is a 20-year veteran of the journalism industry and has covered just about every topic there is. He has a passion for writing and telling stories. He has worked as a beat reporter and bureau chief for a statewide newspaper and as managing editor of a regional newspaper in Arkansas. Additionally, Worthen has been a prolific freelance journalist for two decades, and has been published in several travel magazines and on travel websites.
Not one word about the poor truck driver that died due to the Trooper’s negligence.
Terribly written article and shame on DeSantis for only acknowledging the Trooper’s death.
you took the words right out my mouth. First thing I said was “what about the truck driver”DeSantis, do better. God be with everyone involved
Shame Shame!!! I wouldn’t vote for the idiot.. Prayers for the Trooper and The Truck Drivers family..
i agree with you terrible writing not one word about the truck driver everything about the state trooper prayers for the truck driver family 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
i agree with you terrible writing not one word about the truck driver everything about the state trooper prayers for the truck driver family 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 and every one involved I pray that the person responsible for the accident learned that he caused the death of two innocent people just trying to make a living and protect the citizens of st.lucie.county to and the truck driver working to make a living for his family prayer 🙏🙏🙏 coming for sll
when there is a fatal accident and two persons get killed..out of respect both deceased should be mentioned..I am the widow of a Police Chief, who would have agreed with me, and the mother of a son who was abtrucker for many years.🙏🙏🙏🙏 to both families.
Well spoken words by everyone. A human being is significant no matter what they do for a living. I protect and serve everyday, but I don’t consider myself any more or less than anyone else. May God be with all parties involved 🙏
I myself who has truck drivers in my family; very disrespectful for not including the truck driver’s family; every driver should whether everyday drivers or Police should be aware that it takes a lot for an eighteen wheeler driver to move out of the in order to avoid an accident. Prayers to families of truck driver and police officer 🙏🙏
To this day, I still and always will disagree with the law enforcement procedures implemented regarding vehicle pursuits. I don’t care how well trained and on-point an officer is behind the wheel, it in EVERY POSSIBLE WAY, places lives in immediate and lethal danger!!! They said the HPM was trying to warn the (law-abiding citizens) of the imminent danger (a suspect fleeing in a vehicle, desperate, untrained, and definitely not considering the possible consequences of his actions, being pursued by one to a dozen of officers.) So instead of just one 4,000 lb. mass of steal moving at 100 m.p.h., there’s now upwards of 13 all moving at such a speed.. At around 80 m.p.h., sirens no longer serve their purpose and unspecting drivers are complacent and have no idea what’s coming more often than not. There’s no excuse or reason worth the loss of life in such instances as is this one, especially in this world that’s absolutely polluted with radio waves, i.e. cameras, phones, and radios (literally everywhere)..
So whenever a suspect decides to flee in a vehicle, there’s really no reason for an active chase, when all that need be done is to utilize the many forms of communication to pursue the suspect. I promise, they will eventually stop somewhere and the law can do what it’s designed to do without pitting the suspect’s car, causing it to roll over and over, ejection the suspects, crashing into another vehicle, etc….
why create a far more dangerous situation that places lives in danger whenever it’s not necessary!
Totally agree with you Sidney Rowell!!!
My same thoughts. Nothing was mentioned about the truck driver. It just shows how we are valued. Shame. May they RIP 🙏. Prayers for their souls and family.
Agree 100%. I saw this article, so sad, after reading the story I asked my self what about the innocent truck driver. The surprise that there’s not one word about the driver. Come on, really. It’s just a shame.
agree all the police do is create more traffic hazards whenever they pull someone over on a highway
poorly written article. nobody cares about truck drivers these days. treated like bottom of the barrel.