Former Braves player was ‘panicking,’ ‘scared’ after fleeing scene of fatal I-75 crash: Arrest report

BRADENTON, Fla. (WFLA)— A former Atlanta Braves minor league player was "panicking" and "scared" after fleeing the scene of a crash on Interstate 75 that killed a man, an arrest report said. New details are emerging in the fatal crash that claimed the life of 34-year-old Stavan "Owen" Facey. According to an arrest report, around 7:12 p.m., Corporal Davidson received a call from the Vice President of Florida Operations for the Atlanta Braves, saying he was 99% sure the vehicle involved in the fatal crash was at their facility. After arriving at the facility, FHP observed damage to the 2022 dark gray Mustang, including the right-side fender, right-side door, and right-side quarter panel. The damage was consistent with the damage on the 2005 Chevy Trailblazer because of the crush damage and blue paint transfer. Around 10:12 p.m. Jonathan Matos Morales began speaking about the crash with the Corporal, where he told them he was trying to get over, and the car in front of him was just braking. He told the Troopers he did not want to hit the person in front of him, so he went to the right. During a sworn recorded statement, Matos Morales told the Corporal he was heading from his girlfriend's house in Wesley Chapel to practice in Venice. Matos Morales said he was running a few minutes late and that there was no traffic at first, so he turned on his signal to get into the left lane. Matos Morales stated that the vehicle in front of him took a left, like the car in front of him brake checked the car in front of him. "Mr. Matos Morales stated he was traumatized because he's never seen that in his life. Mr. Matos Morales stated that after the crash, he didn't know what to do, he was just scared and frustrated," the arrest report said. Matos Morales told the Corporal he stopped to check the damage, but the Corporal said on the video that he clearly left the scene without stopping. According to the arrest report, Matos Morales said he thought about calling 911, but didn't because he was scared to have that conversation with a cop. "Mr. Matos Morales stated that he was panicking, shaking, and called his girlfriend first to tell her that someone had tapped him on the side of his car when he was just trying to brake for someone that was in front of him," the arrest report said. Matos Morales said after practice, his girlfriend called him to tell him the video of him causing the crash was all over social media, but he still didn't contact the police. During the statement, Matos Morales told the Corporal his mother told him the driver of the semi had passed away in the crash he was involved in. Matos Morales was arrested and taken to the Manatee County Jail, where he has bonded out.