PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Florida authorities have identified a truck driver who was killed in a collision with a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) trooper’s car on Feb. 3.
The truck driver, Arsenio Mas, 55, of Homestead, Florida, died in the collision; FHP Trooper Zachary Fink was pronounced dead at an area hospital.
According to reports, Fink followed a reckless driver who made an illegal U-turn into the opposite direction of Interstate 95. The suspect initially got away and was chased by other troopers and deputies until he crashed into a tree and fled on foot. He was captured about five hours after the initial pursuit, following an extensive manhunt, authorities said.
A St. Lucie County deputy initially tried to stop the suspect because he was driving at twice the speed limit but disengaged several minutes later. Fink then picked up the pursuit, trying to stop the motorist out of concern he was endangering other drivers, said Col. Gary Howze, who heads the FHP.
After the suspect made an abrupt U-turn into the opposite direction of highway traffic, Fink followed, turning into the path of the tractor-trailer.
Mas died at the scene, and the trooper was airlifted to a hospital, where he died, the agency said.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said on social media that “our hearts go out to” the trooper’s family and the FHP. Fink, 26, was a three-year highway patrol veteran, starting in Orlando before transferring to his hometown in the Port St. Lucie area. He’s survived by a fiancee and his parents, Howze said.
WPTV reporter Joel Lopez interviewed Mas’ daughter, Yeisel Más Dominguez, who lives in Cuba.
She told Lopez the whole family is devastated.
“This accident has ended my life sincerely,” Dominguez said in Spanish. “It has traumatized me.”
Dominguez, 34, said her father moved to the United States when she was 13 for a better life, according to the WPTV report.
He had four children and a partner.
Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and raised in East Texas, John Worthen returned to his home state to attend college in 1998 and decided to make his life in The Natural State. Worthen is a 20-year veteran of the journalism industry and has covered just about every topic there is. He has a passion for writing and telling stories. He has worked as a beat reporter and bureau chief for a statewide newspaper and as managing editor of a regional newspaper in Arkansas. Additionally, Worthen has been a prolific freelance journalist for two decades, and has been published in several travel magazines and on travel websites.
i’m so sorry such a young trooper was killed in a horrible accident, my thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Not much is mentioned of the truck driver & his family , who have been devastated by a tragic accident that was his fault.
Is highway patrol helping in any way ? He & his family deserve more… my thoughts and prayers go out to them
I believe the truck driver & his family deserves much more dignity in his funeral procession & kindness in assisting in whatever is necessary to replace what truck driver was making to keep them in the style they deserve from the State of Florida as well.
Governor Ron DeSantis should have mentioned the trucker who was killed and his family when he mentioned the trooper who caused the accident and FHP. No respect from me Governor.
I lost all respect for the Governor.He is cold blooded..The truck driver an the family, deserves much more. FHP OWES FAMILY 👪. GOVERNOR OWES FAMILY BIG-TIME APOLOGY.
Everyone is calling this an accident, It was not an accident. The Trooper made a conscious decision to re engage the chase despite senior troopers disengaging due to safety concerns. This was a Homicide because of Vanity. The trooper was responsible for the death of an innocent hard working Man and will be celebrated for it. The state and FHP will call it an official act and will not help this poor truck drivers family or give him the dignified burial he deserves. We accept misconduct by Police Because they’re supposed to be heroes. They are by and far State Check cashers who couldn’t make it in the free Market. I don’t know a single cop who started with service at 21, every one I knew failed in the civilian world so they go collect a state paycheck. I know there are some out there and some that do care. Most don’t. Why do you think they refuse to allow Polygraph exams to guard against corruption. They are all corrupt. FBI has to, NSA have to, CIA has to, I had to in the Army because of the nature of my job.
The family should seek compensation by suing FHP. Although that will not change the fact that their family member is dead.