VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — A man who stopped to help drivers in a fiery crash on Interstate 95 Monday night had his truck stolen by one of the drivers involved in the crash, according to deputies.

  • Driver in I-95 crash accused of stealing good Samaritan's truck
  • Zachary Searls, 27, charged with grand theft, leaving scene of crash
  • Deputies tracked down Searls at a Daytona Beach home

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said Felix Coffman witnessed the I-95 crash and pulled over to help the drivers.

“One of the cars caught on fire. I stopped to see if I could assist any way, help him out. (It's) just the type of person I am. I grew up around the medical field -- my mom was an RN her whole life,”  Coffman said.

Soon after, one of the drivers in the crash, 27-year-old Zachary Searls, jumped in the good Samaritan's truck and took off, deputies said.

The truck that has a lot of meaning for Coffman. It was his father’s, and it was given to Coffman after he passed away.

One of the responding deputies who arrived to the crash scene at about 8 p.m. issued a countywide alert for the truck and Searls, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies tracked down the address in which Searls registered the vehicle involved in the crash, a 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer, to a Daytona Beach home, where they said they saw the stolen truck in the driveway.

Deputies said they saw Searls exit the home and go toward the truck, but he then fled back into the home when he saw authorities.

He was then taken into custody by deputies.

The good Samaritan who showed up to the I-95 crash was taken to the Daytona Beach home and identified Searls as the man who jumped in his truck and drove off, deputies said.

Searls is charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of a crash with injuries, not having a valid driver’s license, and resisting an officer without violence. He is being held at Volusia County Jail on $6,000 bail. He has been arrested 11 times.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers said the other driver involved in the I-95 crash was taken to Halifax Health Medical Center with nonlife-threatening injuries.

Reporter Matt Fernandez contributed to this story.