Published On: Thu, Nov 6th, 2014

Authorities Seeking Jeep Grand Cherokee in Road Ranger death

CRA News Service

The Florida Highway Patrol needs your help to identify the driver of a silver or gray SUV that struck and killed a Road Ranger and took off as he helped a disabled Dodge Charger in Interstate 95 early Sunday morning.

The Road Ranger, Arnold Metellus, 59, of Boynton Beach, was pronounced dead at the scene. He was standing on the east shoulder of the northbound lanes of I-95, talking to the driver of a white Dodge Charger, when he was hit.

The Charger, driven by Cordel Lamar Brown, 30, was stopped just south of Palmetto Park Road when the crash happened at about 1 a.m.

Metellus had deployed all of his emergency equipment, including the lights on his truck, the flashing arrow board that warns other motorists to move over, and safety cones, Sgt. Mark Wysocky, Highway Patrol spokesman, said.

He had his cables out and may have been preparing to jump start the Dodge Charger that had broken down on the side of the road, Wysocky said.

Metellus works for Anchor Towing, which has the Florida Department of Transportation contract for Road Ranger services on that section of the interstate, troopers said.

The hit-and-run driver exited at Palmetto Park Road, Wysocky said. The SUV is thought to be damaged on the front and right side, investigators said.

Brown, of Riviera Beach, and his passenger, Cynthia Lynn Soriano, 22, of Hollywood received minor injuries and were taken to Boca Raton Regional Hospital for treatment, troopers said.

Investigators have broken car parts from the scene that may help them identify the SUV, Wysocky said.

Florida’s Move Over Law requires drivers on a multi-lane interstate highway to vacate the lane closest to an emergency or law enforcement vehicle parked along the roadway if it is safe to do so. Effective in July, the law was amended to also include garbage trucks and utility service vehicles.

Since the Road Ranger program began in 2000, there have been several fatalities involving rangers or their vehicles.

Anyone with information is asked to call FHP at 954-837-4012 or Palm Beach County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-8477.

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