Driver in Hit-and-run Crash Arrested On Several Charges

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Palm Coast, FL- A 37-year-old Palm Coast man faces several criminal charges, including a hit-and-run accident that happened Saturday around 1 p.m.  Flagler County Sheriff's deputies responded to multiple 911 calls about an accident between an SUV and a blue truck at Palm Coast Parkway NW and Pine Lakes Pkwy. Callers said the driver of the blue truck had fled the scene and was 'driving crazy' and 'speeding.'  Deputies found the truck crashed at the wood line on Old Kings Road and the driver, Jonathan DeMartino, gone.  Corporal Gimbel and K-9 Deputy Marko were deployed to the area for a search. Witnesses described the driver, which led the deputies to believe it was Martino.  Witnesses also said DeMartino was carrying what looked like hand tools and other items into the woods.  Boxes found in the woods bore the Home Depot logo.  Deputies contacted the Home Depot loss prevention staff and got confirmation that the items had been stolen just prior to the hit-and-run. DeMartino was later found by deputies at his residence and arrested. “This guy is a habitual offender and is heading to the Green Roof Inn again. We appreciate our citizen’s getting involved by ‘seeing something and saying something’ that helped led to a quick arrest,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “I am praying the people he injured were not seriously hurt and will have a speedy recovery. It is time for the courts to send this guy away for a very long time as obviously, he doesn’t learn while on probation.” DeMartino is charged with leaving the scene of an accident with injury, leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, grand theft, possession of heroin and methamphetamine. Items stolen from the Home Depot were valued at $1,196.00.  He's at the Flagler County Jail on a $5,000 bond.