PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — A 30-year-old man from Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida, was taken into custody on Friday for his involvement in a tragic incident that resulted in the deaths of a Florida Highway Patrol trooper and the driver of a semi-truck. The man, identified as Michael Anthony Addison, is facing multiple charges, including vehicular homicide and felony homicide.
The fatal incident took place on Interstate 95 in St. Lucie County early Friday morning when Trooper Zachary Fink attempted to apprehend Addison, who was driving a white Kia in a reckless manner and at a high rate of speed. FHP Colonel Gary Howze II stated that Addison made an abrupt turn, driving in the wrong direction on Interstate 95, leading to a collision with a semi-truck, resulting in the deaths of both Fink and the truck driver.
After the crash, the Kia continued for less than two miles before crashing into a tree. Addison then fled the scene on foot and was eventually apprehended by authorities at around 8 a.m. He has since been booked into the St. Lucie County Jail without bond.
In addition to the charges from the Florida Highway Patrol, the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office has also charged Addison with fleeing to elude police with lights/sirens activated and an out-of-county warrant from Broward County Sheriff’s Office on aggravated battery.
The tragic incident serves as a reminder of the dangers that law enforcement officers face on a daily basis, as they work to apprehend individuals who pose a threat to public safety. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash is ongoing, as authorities work to piece together the events that led to the loss of two lives.