The crash occurred on Monday morning at 6:28am on Interstate 75 in Manatee County, Florida. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Morales allegedly fled the scene after colliding with an SUV that then slammed into a semi-truck. The 63-year-old man driving the SUV suffered minor injuries. Florida Highway Patrol released dashcam footage from another vehicle on Tuesday showing a 2022 black Ford Mustang racing down I-75 before the crash. The footage depicts the Mustang passing the semi-truck on the right shoulder, cutting across to the left side of the highway, colliding with an SUV when attempting to cut back to the right, and the SUV then slamming into the semi-truck, which flipped over onto its side. The Mustang briefly paused behind the crashed semi-truck before speeding around the wreckage on the right side of the highway. Florida Highway Patrol spokesman Ken Watson said Morales was seen weaving in and out of traffic before the crash, and given the speed of traffic, the weight of the semi-truck, and the limited time Facey had to react, the truck driver had no chance of stopping.
After Florida Highway Patrol's public pleas for help, Braves staff noticed the suspected vehicle at the team's spring training facility, CoolToday Park, in Venice. The Atlanta Braves organization contacted the Florida Highway Patrol advising they may have found the vehicle within their complex. Troopers established that the vehicle was the one they were looking for and promptly arrested the suspected driver. The crash remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Our organization is cooperating fully with authorities and will not have any further comment at this time.
The Atlanta Braves released a statement describing Jonathan Matos Morales as a player who was formerly signed to the team's farm system. The organization stated it is cooperating fully with authorities and will not have any further comment at this time. The Braves added that their condolences go to the loved ones of all who were involved.
Our condolences go to the loved ones of all who were involved.