A man who authorities say was texting and driving moments before he struck a Florida Highway Patrol trooper on the Dolphin Expressway in March was arrested on reckless driving charges Wednesday, officials said.
Hugo Andres Iglesias Olivares, 26, is facing charges of reckless driving causing serious bodily injuries and reckless driving causing property damage in the March 17 crash that left Trooper Carlos Rosario critically injured.
Olivares' mother accompanied him as he turned himself in Wednesday.
"There's no way to show his innocence but to confront it and God is in charge," Hada Iglesias said in Spanish. "As a mother I'm very proud of him, sadly this happened but this was something he never wanted to happen. He's not a criminal as he's being portrayed."
Olivares bonded out of jail Wednesday evening. NBC 6 cameras were there as he left the detention center, but the suspect said nothing to reporters. A judge gave Olivares a $6,000 bond and told him he's not allowed to drive when released.
Rosario, a 12-year veteran and father of two, was standing on the side of the highway running radar checks when Olivares lost control and struck him, officials said. He remains hospitalized.
FHP officials say Olivares was texting while driving, causing him to lose control of his car and hit Rosario before crashing into two FHP patrol cars that were parked on the shoulder. Olivares was driving 75 mph in a 55 mph zone when he crashed, a warrant says.
Using cellphone records, investigators determined Olivaries was having a full-blown text conversation at the time of the collision.
"That is what caused him to lose control of the vehicle and not only strike the trooper but also collide with the vehicle, so that has been determined through the process of the investigation," FHP spokesman Trooper Joe Sanchez said.
Rosario and his family have received support from law enforcement agencies and the South Florida community, including a $12,000 donation from Marlins Man. A GoFundMe page set up for Rosario has raised more than $76,000.
"He's recuperating, it's been a slow process recuperating but he is doing better, we want to thank the community for their support," Sanchez said.
If you would like to donate to Rosario's GoFundMe page, click here.
