PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – A Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Trooper, Zachary Fink, tragically lost his life in the line of duty during a collision with a semi-truck early Friday morning. The incident occurred during a high-speed chase on I-95, leading to the closure of all lanes on both sides of the freeway from south of Crosstown Parkway until roughly Tradition Parkway as of 11 a.m.
Law enforcement agencies are actively investigating the crash, which also involved a separate collision a mile from the scene. The driver of the vehicle involved in the second collision fled the scene, prompting an extensive search by authorities in the Castle Pines neighborhood near Commerce Center Drive.
Meanwhile, the Port St. Lucie Police have detained a suspect connected with the I-95 crash, as confirmed in a Facebook post around 10 a.m. The tragic loss of Trooper Fink has resonated throughout the state, with various law enforcement agencies and government officials expressing their condolences and support for Fink’s family and the FHP community.
The incident, which occurred just a block away from the St. Lucie County School District (SLCSD) Headquarters, did not result in any school closures. However, the school district has notified parents of slight delays in some bus routes due to the situation.
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is leading the investigation into the crash, alongside the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, Port St. Lucie Police Department, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, and the SWAT. The tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with law enforcement duties, as expressed by FHP troopers reflecting on the loss of their colleague.
The details surrounding the collision and the events leading up to it are still unfolding, and the community continues to come to terms with the loss of a dedicated law enforcement officer.