Suspect driver abandons car half mile away after shifting into reverse
Motorcyclist Keenan Huff, 42, of Brightwood, Va., lost his life overnight while riding on Interstate 4, as shown in this locator map, when he was struck on by a hit-and-run driver.LAKE MARY -- A Virginia biker was struck and killed by a motorist on I-4 early this morning in a horrible hit-and-run situation, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
The driver of a Saturn was traveling westbound in the center lane while the motorcyclist was in the left lane when he lost control of the car and veered into the left lane and struck the bike, resulting in the rider being thrown from his Harley-Davidson. That wasn't the worst of it. The Saturn driver then jumped back into the center lane and put the car in "reverse," Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman Sgt. Kim Miller said.
That caused a motorist in a 2004 Toyota van behind him to take evasive action and swerve into the left lane, and unfortunately, run over the fallen motorcyclist. That motorist remained at the scene.
The victim, 42-year-old Keenan Huff of Brightwood, Va., was pronounced dead at the scene of the 1:10 a.m. crash near mile marker 101. He was wearing a helmet, but it didn't matter, based on the circumstances.
Troopers said the 1988 4-door Saturn was abandoned a half mile from the fatality scene in the breakdown lane of westbound I-4.
"(The) driver has still not been located or identified," Montes said. "Troopers want to talk to the registered owner (of the Saturn), Victor Eusebio Salinas of Seffner, Florida. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call FHP 407-737 -2213. This crash remains under investigation and charges are pending."
"(The) driver has still not been located or identified," Montes said. "Troopers want to talk to the registered owner (of the Saturn), Victor Eusebio Salinas of Seffner, Florida. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call FHP 407-737 -2213. This crash remains under investigation and charges are pending."
The driver of the van, 45-year-old Canadian Rohan Vickramasinghe of Ontario, was not hurt. Montes said there was yet another mishap stemming from the fatality.
"A Lake Mary police office was the first responder on scene, the FHP spokeswoman said. "He placed his marked patrol car to block the left lane of I-4 with his emergency equipment activated. A 2009 Volkswagen 4-door that was traveling westbound on I-4 did not stop and struck the unoccupied patrol car."
That motorist, 41-year-old Tracey Flood, was issued a ticket charging her with careless driving.