Bradenton Man Arrested After Alleged Hit-and-Run, Fiery Motorcycle Escape on I-75
A 20-year-old Bradenton man is facing multiple felony charges after Florida Highway Patrol investigators said he fled the scene of a motorcycle crash before his motorcycle caught fire during an attempted escape on Interstate 75.
According to an arrest report, the incident occurred shortly after midnight on July 19 when Jason Ortiz was involved in a crash with another motorcyclist on I-75. A responding trooper interviewed the other rider and witnesses while investigating the collision.
Investigators said that as the trooper approached Ortiz, he restarted his motorcycle. Despite being instructed through the patrol vehicle’s public address system not to leave, authorities said Ortiz accelerated north on Interstate 75.
The trooper did not initiate a high-speed pursuit and instead followed from a distance. According to investigators, Ortiz later slowed down but accelerated again after the trooper activated emergency lights and sirens.
Authorities said the motorcycle soon began producing heavy smoke before catching fire, forcing Ortiz to stop along the interstate. Investigators said Ortiz then attempted to restart the burning motorcycle in an effort to continue fleeing.
The trooper used the patrol vehicle to prevent the motorcycle from moving and pulled Ortiz away moments before the motorcycle became fully engulfed in flames. After a brief struggle, Ortiz was taken into custody.
Troopers later determined the other motorcyclist sustained injuries in the original crash.
Ortiz has been charged with felony hit-and-run involving injury, felony aggravated fleeing, operating an unregistered motorcycle, and operating a motorcycle without a valid motorcycle license.
The case remains under investigation. All suspects are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.