In a terribly tragic incident in Florida on February 2, 2024, Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Zachary Fink, a three-year veteran of the force, was killed in an accident when chasing a suspect whom local deputies had witnessed driving at an excessive speed.

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, deputies from the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Ofice saw a white Kia fly by at an “excessive” speed. They decided to attempt a traffic stop and ticket the Kia, but the driver instead fled the scene and tried getting away in a high-speed chase.

Trooper Fink got involved because he happened to be in the area when the suspect in the Kia fled, whipping the car in a U-Turn on the highway and driving in the wrong direction. Witnessing the Kia speed off, Trooper Fink attempted to chase down the Kia. Beginning the pursuit, Trooper Fink attempted a U-Turn, at which point he was struck by a sem-truck.