“Man Accused in Crash That Killed Trooper Zachary Fink and Unknown Truck Driver in St. Lucie County Traveled Wrong Way at 140 MPH, Records Show”

1. “Fatal crash involving FHP trooper and truck driver”
2. “Tragic accident claims lives of FHP trooper and truck driver”.

Accident – Death – Obituary News : ST. LUCIE COUNTY — Shockwaves were sent through the community after a tragic incident resulted in the deaths of a Florida Highway Patrol trooper and a truck driver. New information has emerged this week, shedding light on the events leading up to the fatal crash on Interstate 95.

According to records released on Monday, the man accused in this incident, Michael Anthony Addison, 30, of Lauderdale Lakes in Broward County, traveled the wrong way on West Midway Road and reached speeds of up to 140 mph in other areas before the collision. The full details surrounding the crash remain unclear, but these records provide some insight into what transpired on that fateful day.

An arrest affidavit authored by a St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Deputy and a Florida Highway Patrol search warrant application reveal the sequence of events. It was reported that on February 2 at around 2:40 a.m., Deputy Cheyenne Benning measured the speed of a white Kia, later identified as being driven by Addison, at 60 mph in a 30 mph zone on West Midway Road near White City Park. Benning attempted to stop the vehicle, but as she exited her patrol car and approached the Kia, Addison sped off westbound.

Deputy Benning, along with Deputy Moutschka, began pursuing the Kia. The records indicate that the Kia continued on West Midway Road, going 90 mph in the eastbound lanes before eventually turning south onto I-95. The pursuit was called off, and the deputies headed north on I-95.

At 2:52 a.m., Florida Highway Patrol spotted the same Kia traveling at an alarming speed of 140 mph on Commerce Center Drive, just west of I-95 and southwest of the initial traffic stop. Deputy Benning and Deputy Moutschka, with supervisory approval, rushed to assist FHP and began traveling south on I-95. In an effort to catch up to the fleeing vehicle, Benning reached speeds of 134 mph.

As the deputies approached the Crosstown Parkway exit on I-95, the Kia made a dangerous U-turn and started traveling north in the southbound lanes. Records state that the vehicle narrowly missed colliding head-on with Deputy Benning, forcing her to switch lanes to avoid a collision. Undeterred, Benning made a U-turn on I-95 and continued her pursuit to assist FHP.

The Kia was later spotted exiting westbound at St. Lucie West and turning right onto Commerce Center Drive, where investigators later found the vehicle crashed into a tree. It was during this period that FHP Sgt. Matthew Gallagher, who was traveling southbound on I-95, witnessed the blue emergency lights of Trooper Zachary Fink’s vehicle as he engaged in a pursuit with the Kia, approaching Crosstown Parkway.

Sgt. Gallagher reported seeing the white Kia traveling north in the southbound lanes towards his position. The tragic outcome occurred when Fink made a U-turn and collided with a semi-truck, resulting in the deaths of both Fink and the truck driver.

Investigations have revealed that the 2023 Kia Forte involved in the incident is registered to a 19-year-old resident of Coconut Creek. However, a detailed account from FHP regarding their involvement has not been made publicly available.

During an interview at the Port St. Lucie Police Department, Addison confessed to a detective that he fled the initial traffic stop because he believed he was wanted for a previous incident in Broward County.

Addison has been arrested on multiple charges, including those related to the fatal crash and warrants from Broward County. Further information from the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office has not been provided at this time.

The community mourns the loss of Trooper Zachary Fink, and investigations into the incident continue. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families affected by this tragedy.

Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on Twitter @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. You can also contact him via email at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com..

1. “Fatal crash involving FHP trooper and truck driver”
2. “Details emerge in tragic crash that claimed FHP trooper and truck driver’s lives”.