Good Samaritan fatally struck while helping change tire on I-4

A good Samaritan who stopped to help someone change their vehicle's tire was killed by a hit-and-run driver overnight. 

The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) reported that a Chrysler 300, driven by 37-year-old Fabian Anthony Thomas, was traveling eastbound on Interstate 4 in the right lane very early on Monday morning. 

They also said that a good Samaritan, identified as 41-year-old Edward Keene, was on the right shoulder of eastbound I-4. He had stopped to help a disabled vehicle change a tire.   For an unknown reason, Thomas' vehicle traveled into the paved shoulder and fatally struck Keene.

“He sees somebody who’s got a flat tire and he pulls over. He’s a good Samaritan, and it cost him his life because of it,” said Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood.

Thomas reportedly left the scene and traveled to a RaceTrac gas station on Deltona Blvd.

“This coward didn’t even have the guts to stop or render first aid or something,” said Chitwood.

A Volusia County deputy located Thomas and observed him removing his license plate. He also said he saw Thomas' bumber was removed and located in the woodline, adjacent to the gas station. 

“There was the guy, trying to change his tire, took the bumper off, took his license plate off. Unfortunately there was blood on the car. I mean, they knew they had the car. They had the driver,” Chitwood explained.

According to FHP, Thomas told troopers that the damage on his vehicle was the result of a tire blowout. Troopers went on to arrest him for leaving the scene of a fatal crash. 

FHP is still investigating.