A Merrillville tow truck driver is facing murder charges after allegedly fatally hitting a 19-year-old pedestrian near a restaurant, police said.
Maximilliono Farias, 37, is also facing one count of leaving the scene of an accident, a level 4 felony, online records show.
He is in custody, ordered held without bail, court records show. An initial hearing has not yet been set.
The victim was identified as John Garner IV, according to the Lake County Coroner’s Office. He was pronounced dead at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Methodist Southlake in Merrillville. The cause and manner of death was pending, according to the release.
Merrillville Police were called Monday night to Sheffield’s Restaurant & Sports Bar, 1515 E. 82nd Avenue for a reported accident.
Paramedics tried to save Garner who died from those injuries, Det. Josh Miskus said in a release.
Farias fled the scene. He was spotted by an Indiana State trooper by U.S. 2 and Clay Street. He was arrested at the Pilot Travel Center gas station near U.S. 2 and Interstate 65, then transported to the Lake County Jail, police said.
Merrillville Police thanked Indiana State Police and the Lake County Sheriff’s Department for their assistance.
Garner was a YouTube creator using his stage name, Fhantxm, who loved making music, according to an online fundraiser for his funeral.
He was a “talented and positive person and only wanted to try and change the world for the better,” a relative wrote.
Anyone with further information can call Miskus at 219-769-3722, ext. 345.
