BARTOW, Fla. — A Florida man that Florida Highway Patrol officers said hit and killed a teenager Wednesday morning has been arrested.
According to FHP, the driver, Edgardo Joel Rosado Perez, 41, had dropped his daughter off at school and then was involved in a minor crash. FHP said Perez then drove off at a high rate of speed in a 2018 Hyundai sedan.
Trooper said while fleeing the scene, Perez hit 18-year-old Bartow High School student Zachariah Clabough, who was walking to school. FHP said Perez drove off after hitting the teen as well.
The Bartow High student died from the injuries he suffered in the crash.
“He was never mean. He was kind of quiet and shy,” said classmate Brianna Rivera.
Family and friends said Zachariah loved playing his guitar and collecting shoes. He was set to graduate in May.
“He’s probably up in heaven right now wearing his Jordans that he just got and his baggy jeans, thinking he’s cool. He is, he’s a pretty cool guy,” Rivera said.
FHP said the Hyundai sedan was later found at a Polk County home, where troopers learned the driver had already changed vehicles and took off in a blue 2017 Ford Fiesta.
The blue Ford Fiesta was found by Hillsborough County deputies parked at the Brandon Mall, and Perez was then found inside the mall.
Perez was arrested by FHP for leaving the scene of a deadly crash and taken to the Hillsborough County Jail.
A spokesperson for Polk County Public Schools said counselors were on campus Wednesday for students and staff who needed them.
“I saw one student today in class shed a tear for Zach. He's somebody’s friend, best friend. Whenever you go to school, and you hear a student passed away it’s not an easy thing,” said Cardet Bienvenue, Track and Field head coach at Bartow High School.
A GoFundMe has been created to help Zachariah's family pay for funeral expenses.
