MANATEE CO., Fla. — The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) arrested an 18-year-old for a deadly hit-and-run crash in Manatee County on Monday morning.
Troopers released video of a driver in a Mustang driving recklessly on I-75 southbound around 6:30 a.m. on April 20.
Less than 24 hours later, FHP made an arrest.
"He is abruptly and critically changing lanes when he shouldn't and got to the point where he ended up driving into an occupied lane, striking that SUV which caused the SUV to move from his lane which then struck the tractor-trailer," said State Trooper Ken Watson with the Florida Highway Patrol.
WATCH: Former Atlanta Braves minor league catcher arrested for deadly hit-and-run crash
FHP arrested Jonathan Matos Morales of Cocoa for vehicular homicide and leaving a crash scene involving death.
He was an Atlanta Braves minor league baseball player. Troopers said a call from the Braves led them to the Mustang.
"When they contacted the Florida Highway Patrol last evening, they had made a statement of we are 99% sure that we have the vehicle that you are looking for that was involved in the deadly crash earlier this morning. Immediately, we had our traffic homicide team head down there," said Watson.
"My hats off to this organization, extremely professional," added Watson.
According to an arrest report, the teen said he was leaving his girlfriend's house in the Wesley Chapel area and headed to practice in Venice.
The report says he was running a few minutes late and at first, there was no traffic.
The report says, "Mr. Matos Morales stated he then started to slow down and there was a car in front of him that took a left, almost like the car in front of him brake-checked the car in front of him. Mr. Matos Morales stated he didn't want to hit the car in front of him or get hit by the car behind him so he steered to the right and that's when he observed the semi truck come around and he got scared. Mr. Matos Morales stated he was traumatized because he's never seen that in his life. Mr. Matos Morales stated after the crash he didn't know what to do, he was just scared and frustrated."
The report also stated he thought about calling 911, but was scared to have that conversation with a cop.
According to the report, "Mr. Matos Morales stated his girlfriend called him after practice and that he knew the video of him causing the crash was all over social media, but still did not make contact with law enforcement."
According to the report, the Mustang was located at the team's facility in Venice.
"They advised us it was at their complex," he Watson.
The collision killed 34-year-old Stavan "Owen" Facey after his semi-tractor-trailer overturned.
"I'm not going to have my best friend to celebrate any birthdays ever again or any holidays or any of his kid's birthdays like it's not going to be the same anymore," said Kimberly Johnson, his girlfriend.
Facey was from New Smyrna Beach and leaves behind four children. A GoFundMe page is raising money for his family.
The Atlanta Braves organization sent Tampa Bay 28 the following statement:
"We are aware that a player who was formerly in our minor league system is under investigation related to a fatal accident that occurred yesterday in Manatee County. Our organization is cooperating fully with authorities and will not have any further comment at this time. Our condolences go to the loved ones of all who were involved."
FHP said the impact caused the Chevy, which was driven by a 63-year-old Palmetto man, to leave the center lane and enter the right lane, directly into the path of a semi-tractor trailer, driven by a 34-year-old New Smyrna man.
The right side of the Chevy collided with the left front side of the semi-tractor trailer, and the semi overturned before coming to a final stop on its top, blocking all southbound lanes of I-75, per the report.
Officials said the Ford stopped momentarily after the collisions, then fled southbound.
The semi-tractor trailer driver was fatally injured in the crash and the Chevy driver suffered minor injuries.
This is an ongoing investigation.
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