Driver rear-ends truck on I-95, killing 15-year-old, then runs away, Florida cops say

UPDATE: Florida Highway Patrol identified Gerlin Adali Garcia Mendez as the accused hit-and-run driver and arrested him in Orlando. He faces unspecified felony charges.

The original story is below.

A driver crashed into a pickup truck, killing a 15-year-old behind the wheel, then ran away on foot, Florida authorities said.

The manhunt is on for the accused hit-and-run driver, described as a male driver of a white Honda Civic, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

Shortly after 9 p.m. Oct. 13, the 15-year-old boy was driving a Toyota Tacoma with a 16-year-old passenger on Interstate 95 in Jacksonville when the Honda Civic rear-ended him, troopers said.

The impact caused the truck to roll over, fatally injuring the 15-year-old but leaving the other boy without injuries, according to FHP. The 15-year-old, who hasn’t been identified, died at a hospital. Neither was wearing a seatbelt, troopers said.

The Honda Civic driver is accused of fleeing the scene on foot.

FHP is asking anyone with information to contact the agency.

This story was originally published October 14, 2024 at 5:19 PM.