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Florida Teen Arrested on Vehicular Homicide Charge After Fatal I-75 Hit-and-Run

Troopers say an erratic lane change pushed an SUV into a semi’s path.

Overview

  • Following Monday’s early-morning crash near Mile Marker 220 in Manatee County, Florida Highway Patrol arrested 18-year-old Jonathan Matos Morales on charges of vehicular homicide and leaving a crash scene involving death.
  • Troopers say a dark-colored 2022 Ford Mustang moved from the left to the center lane, struck a Chevy Trailblazer, and forced it into the path of a southbound semi-truck near State Road 64.
  • The semi overturned across all three southbound lanes, killing its 34-year-old driver from New Smyrna Beach, while the SUV driver sustained minor injuries.
  • Video shows the Mustang stopped briefly after the collisions before fleeing southbound, and FHP later located and impounded the car as part of its investigation.
  • The FHP Traffic Homicide Unit is reconstructing the crash and gathering evidence as the case remains open.