A 19-year-old man accused of hitting two teenagers with a stolen vehicle and running off was denied bond by a Orange County judge Wednesday afternoon.

A judge ordered Travis Johnson held without bond. The judge also appointed the public defender to represent him.

Johnson was a wanted man before this incident. He had a warrant out for his arrest on charges of fleeing a trooper on a stolen motorcycle last July.  

Troopers said Tuesday's hit-and-run crash happened just north of Dean Road near Burl Way at about 4:30 p.m. Two eighth-graders from Union Park Middle School were struck by the vehicle.

One of the victims, 14-year-old Jacelyn Diehl, was taken to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children with serious injuries. Early Wednesday, investigators said Diehl was stable. 

Jaxon Wells said he was walking home from school Tuesday when a man driving a pick-up truck lost control and hit his friend, Jacelyn Diehl.


Travis Johnson, 19, is accused of stealing a pick-up truck, losing control of it and hitting 2 middle school students, leaving 1 in critical condition on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. He faces multiple charges, including leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury and grand theft. (Florida Highway Patrol )

The truck had been reported stolen, according to troopers.

"I don't think she had time to react, but I am just really thankful she is all right," said Wells, who was with Diehl during the time of the accident and was grazed by the truck.

Wells cannot believe his friend is in the hospital, while he has only a few scrapes.

"When you see a car coming straight at you, you're like, 'I am not going to make it if I don't do something,' " Wells said.

Wells immediately called 911 and then called his mother.

"To see a child bleeding on the ground and know that you did that and then you leave? I don't get the mentality," said Viva Desensi, Wells' mother.

The man troopers said was behind the wheel is 19-year-old Travis Johnson. He is facing several charges, including leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury and grand theft.

Johnson was in a stolen truck and was driving with a suspended license, the Florida Highway Patrol said. He was found hiding in a nearby lake by an Orange County K-9.

Johnson was scheduled to face a judge at 1 p.m. Wednesday.