A minor league catcher with the Atlanta Braves has been arrested after leaving the scene of a deadly hit-and-run crash, according to the cops.
Jonathan Matos Morales, an 18-year-old from Cocoa, Florida, was driving a 2022 Ford Mustang on 1-75 Monday morning when he shifted from the left lane to the middle lane and crashed into a Chevy Trailblazer, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
“This mustang was weaving in and out of traffic and caused a crash that sidewiped the SUV,” Trooper Ken Watson said, per Fox 13 Tampa Bay.
The 63-year-old man driving the Trailblazer veered into the path of a semi-truck, which turned onto its right side, blocking all three southbound lanes of I-75, the Florida Highway Patrol said in a statement.
“Driving a vehicle like that high profile, early in the morning and with a full load obviously they can’t stop on a dime,” Watson said of the semi-truck.
A 34-year-old from New Smyrna who was driving the semi-truck died, according to authorities. Fox 13 Tampa Bay identified the truck driver as Stavan Albert Facey. The Palmetto man driving the Trailblazer reportedly had minor injuries.
Matos Morales briefly stopped after the crash, but then fled the scene, authorities said.
The baseball player was turned in to the cops by the Braves after his team saw the mustang in their compound, Fox 13 Tampa Bay reported, citing the Florida Highway Patrol.
Matos Morales was arrested on Monday and remains in the custody of the Manatee County Jail. He faces charges of vehicular homicide and leaving a crash scene involving death.
Information about Matos Morales was not immediately clear.
The Atlanta Braves said Matos Morales is no longer a member of the organization, per The Daytona Beach News-Journal.
“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,” the Atlanta Braves said in a statement carried by local media.
“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,” the Braves added.
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