Zachary Fink, a devoted trooper with the Florida Roadway Patrol, died in the line of duty in a terrible event on a Florida roadway. It was a dismal day for police enforcement and the community he served when the accident happened during a high-speed pursuit on Interstate 95.
Trooper Fink’s car collided with a semi-truck when he was pursuing a criminal suspect. The pursuit had started when someone tried to pull over a speeding Kia. This dangerous pursuit culminated in the suspect making a U-turn, which is how Fink was killed in the crash. The situation was made even more serious by the fact that Fink and the semi-truck driver were both declared dead at the site.
Following the suspect’s crash and subsequent car abandonment, law enforcement apprehended an individual of interest. Trooper Fink was a dedicated community protector and servant, and the Florida Highway Patrol openly lamented his passing.
Florida Highway Patrol trooper killed in crash while chasing suspect: ‘Hero who died while helping people’ https://t.co/lGYC5i1aTG pic.twitter.com/BwSDCeFjiW
— New York Post (@nypost) February 3, 2024
Both supervisors and coworkers regarded Fink, who had been a member of the FHP since graduating with the 146th recruit class in December 2020, as a hero. Tributes to him emphasized his dedication to public safety and his goal of becoming a state trooper, expressing the deep sadness felt by everyone who knew him.
Governor Ron DeSantis acknowledged Fink’s ultimate sacrifice while performing his duties and sent his sympathies to his family as well as the FHP community. The incident serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers that law enforcement personnel must deal with on a daily basis in order to uphold public safety.
