SEBASTIAN — A man who fell from a truck later died at the hospital following a night of drinking and then driving, according to the Sebastian Police Department.
“It is a shame that we have one life lost and another that will be greatly impacted because they mixed drinking and driving,” said Sebastian Police Cmndr. John Blackledge.
On Sunday, Sept. 25, at about 2:15 a.m. a Sebastian police officer was stopped facing north in the median in the 1600 block of U.S. 1 when he observed a pick-up truck traveling southbound and weaving erratically, according to a press release.
The officer turned south traveling southbound when he noticed a person lying in the roadway, later identified as Tristen Shaffner, who had suffered extensive injuries.
The pick-up truck that he appeared to have fallen from, and believed to be driven by Greg Rooney, never stopped and left the scene, police said.
The officer stopped to provide emergency care to Shaffner while waiting for emergency rescue to respond, according to police.
At about 3:15 p.m. Sunday, Holmes Regional Medical Center notified Sebastian police that Shaffner had died from his injuries.
Shaffner and Rooney had been together at a drinking establishment just minutes before the accident and were involved in a disturbance, police said.
The two were observed consuming alcohol throughout the evening, according to police.
They had left the bar prior to the arrival of Indian River County Sheriff’s Office deputies who were called to that scene, according to authorities.
Rooney, believed to be the driver of the truck during the incident, was later found in the driver’s seat of the vehicle.
He was located in the 100 block of Jimmy Street, in Whispering Palms Park, in the county area just south of Sebastian by another Sebastian police officer.
The vehicle was impounded for processing.
This case is still an active criminal investigation and criminal charges are pending.
Anyone with information about the incident should contact Officer Parker at 772-589-5233 or Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 800-273-8477.
