Deltona, FL - Troopers tell us he was trying to help another driver with a disabled vehicle on the side of Interstate 4 get back on the road.
Now that 41-year-old Orlando man is dead after he was run over by a Chrysler 300 and the Florida Highway Patrol says they've arrested the 37-year-old Lakeland man behind the wheel at the time.
Edward Keene died at the scene around 1 o'clock this morning (February 18th) on the eastbound side of I-4 near the Dirksen Drive exit on Mile Marker 108.
FHP Lieutenant Kim Montes says a Volusia County Sheriff's Office deputy spotted Fabian A. Thomas and the Chrysler at a Racetrac gas station on Deltona Boulevard soon after he fled the scene.
"[Thomas] was observed removing his license plate from [the Chrysler]," Montes added. "[The front] bumper was also removed and located in the woodline adjacent to the gas station."
When questioned later on by troopers, Thomas claimed the bumper damage was the result of a tire blowout, per Montes.
Thomas has been charged with leaving the scene of a fatal crash.
Troopers think Thomas was driving the Chrysler east on I-4 when it went into the paved right shoulder and hit Keene while he was changing a rear tire on the disabled vehicle.
It's not clear at this point why the vehicle went off the road, but Montes says it doesn't appear to be a case of alcohol or drug impairment.
