A Florida Highway Patrol trooper was killed Tuesday morning when he lost control of his cruiser and slammed into a tree while attempting to stop a vehicle.
In a press conference Tuesday afternoon, investigators said the veteran trooper, 54-year-old Andy Brown (pictured, right), was attempting to stop a car for a traffic violation just after 10 a.m. when his cruiser slammed into a tree at country Road 242 and Sisters Welcome Road in Columbia County, southwest of Lake City.
FHP spokesperson Lt. Chris Knight said there was no indication of a pursuit, but that speed was a factor in the crash.
The FHP put out a statewide bulletin looking for a black Dodge Neon with an unknown tag and dark-tinted windows, driven by a white male with multiple tattoos and a white female passenger.
Tuesday afternoon, authorities in Citrus County detained a vehicle with two occupants who matched the description. They are being questioned.
Investigators also plan to analyze the black box that was in the trooper's vehicle.
Brown retired from the FHP in 1996 after 25 years, then rejoined in 1997. Knight described Brown as "very loyal to Florida Highway Patrol and to the citizens he served."