FORT PIERCE, Fla. - WPTV: The Florida Highway Patrol has identified a person of interest in the fatal hit-and-run crash that left two young people dead Monday evening on Florida’s Turnpike near mile marker 166 in Fort Pierce.Robert Bates, a 68-year-old resident of Sanford, Florida, was identified as a person of interest in the accident that killed 19-year-old Mariah A. King and 24-year-old Vincent T. Mathews as they attempted to change a tire on their PT Cruiser around 8 p.m., according to Sgt. Mark Wysocky, spokesman for FHP.
The victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
Earlier Tuesday morning FHP investigators traveled to Orlando to question a suspect in the fatal hit-and-run wreck. They told WPTV that they had spoken with the suspect and had recovered the rig.
However, Tuesday evening FHP said in a media release that investigators did not find the person of interest at home and had not recovered the 2006 Peterbuilt tractor-trailer believed to have been involved in the fatal accident. Investigators did speak with representatives of Mercer Transport of Louisville, Ky,, the registered owner of the semi, regarding the investigation and said company officials were cooperating.WPTV reached out to family members of both victims but they declined to comment. However, they said they were devastated. One family member did confirm the two were visiting friends further south and were on their way back home to Lakeland. FHP investigators called the site tragic.
"Anytime you're attempting to change your tire and a car veered off the road and hit the people…it's going to be a tragic site," said Sgt. Wysocky. Both victims are former students of the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. ... Read more Robert Bates: Person of interest identified in fatal crash that killed a Central Florida couple
UPDATE: Recovered in the Orlando-Sanford area - FHP finds tractor trailer suspected of deadly hit and run crash in Fort Pierce
