Port St. Lucie, Fla. – Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Trooper Zachary Fink tragically lost his life in the line of duty early Friday morning in a high-speed chase that resulted in a collision with a semi-truck. Both the trooper and the semi-truck driver were killed in the incident, and a suspect is now in custody.
The 26-year-old trooper’s death was confirmed by FHP, who also announced that a press conference would be held at Christ Fellowship Church in Port St. Lucie to discuss the tragic event. During the conference, it was revealed that the fleeing suspect attempted to make a U-turn, prompting Fink to do the same, resulting in the fatal collision with the semi-truck.
“[Trooper Fink was a hero.] His stepmother related to me that since he was 6 years old, all he wanted to do was help people,” said Dave Kerner, FHP executive director, during the press conference, highlighting Fink’s selfless dedication to serving and protecting the community.
Following the incident, a multi-agency manhunt was launched after a white Kia crashed into a tree about a mile from the crash site. The driver of the Kia fled the scene, leading to a search in the Castle Pines neighborhood involving drones, K-9 units, and a helicopter.
While the tragic news has deeply impacted the FHP community, the Florida Highway Patrol is urging the public to avoid the area, as all lanes are closed on both sides of I-95 from south of Crosstown Parkway, near Tradition Parkway. This devastating loss is a sobering reminder of the dangers faced by law enforcement officers in the line of duty, resonating with the recent loss of Trooper Joseph Bullock in 2020.