VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Investigators from the Florida Highway Patrol have uncovered new insights into a fatal hit-and-run incident on Interstate 4, revealing that witness misidentification of the SUV’s color might have played a crucial role. This revelation comes from recently disclosed court documents.
The documents detail a significant shift in the investigation, moving suspicion away from 23-year-old Lindsey Isaacs, who was initially detained, and redirecting it toward 47-year-old Alisa Lee Montalvo. Montalvo is now facing nine charges related to the tragic crash.
The collision, which occurred in October 2025, resulted in the deaths of Jorge Salinas, a Deputy Administrator from Flagler County, his spouse, and a motorcyclist. A fourth person survived but sustained severe injuries.
According to the arrest affidavit, authorities now suspect that Montalvo was behind the wheel of a maroon Dodge Durango on the night in question. Initially, however, eyewitnesses described the SUV as black.
This discrepancy became a pivotal element in the ongoing investigation.
Initially, Isaacs was the primary suspect because she owned a black Dodge Durango, which matched the eyewitness reports and was also captured on nearby Flock cameras around the time of the incident, as detailed in the records.
On Oct. 10, troopers obtained a search warrant for Isaacs’ vehicle after investigators reported finding smudges they believed were consistent with the crash. Isaacs was arrested April 16 and booked into the Volusia County Jail.
But after Isaacs’ arrest, the State Attorney’s Office requested assistance from FHP’s Specialized Investigation and Reconstruction Team, or SIRT, after identifying discrepancies in the original investigation.
According to the affidavit, the SIRT investigation determined the crash occurred on a dark stretch of I-4 with little lighting, and investigators concluded witnesses could have easily mistaken Montalvo’s maroon Dodge Durango for Isaacs’ black SUV.
The affidavit also reveals new details about the moments leading up to the crash.
Investigators say a witness told them Montalvo had been with a group of motorcycle riders and friends in Sanford before everyone eventually traveled onto Interstate 4 that night.
According to investigators, the witness said Montalvo later left alone in her maroon Dodge Durango and traveled eastbound alongside the group of motorcycles.
A 911 caller later reported seeing the maroon SUV driving recklessly and dangerously close to one of the motorcycles moments before the crash, according to the affidavit.
The caller told investigators he saw the SUV and motorcycle disappear in front of a large truck before coming upon the crash scene seconds later.
Investigators say Montalvo briefly pulled onto the shoulder after the collision before driving away.
Montalvo is charged with three counts of vehicular homicide, three counts of leaving the scene of a crash involving death, leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury, reckless driving causing serious bodily injury and tampering with physical evidence.
According to court records, the tampering charge stems from allegations that Montalvo attempted to repair damage to the SUV days after the crash.
Investigators say Montalvo brought the Dodge Durango to a man in Altamonte Springs for repairs. The man later provided investigators with photos of the damage, pictures of an airbag found in the backseat and receipts showing Montalvo paid for repairs, records state.
In a motion for pretrial detention, prosecutors wrote, “While this case received extensive media coverage, the Defendant failed to contact law enforcement to report the crash, and instead took steps to conceal it.”
Montalvo is being held in the Volusia County Jail without bond and is expected back in court within the next five days.
Meanwhile, prosecutors formally declined to pursue charges against Isaacs after she spent 13 days in jail.
Isaacs’ attorney, Patrick McGeehan, criticized FHP investigators and called for accountability.
“The person that should be here is Colonel Gary Helm, who’s the director of FHP,” McGeehan said. “He should be here explaining to you how this happened, how an innocent woman was put in the county jail for 13 days on a crime. She wasn’t even on the scene.”
Isaacs also spoke publicly after her release.
“I feel there’s really no way of correcting what they did to me,” Isaacs said. “It will always hurt me, my reputation, when I’m still receiving death threats and hate. It’s very hard.”
McGeehan said his team is now exploring possible legal action against FHP.
News 6 reached out to FHP asking whether investigators believe mistakes were made in Isaacs’ arrest and what changes, if any, may be implemented moving forward.
FHP did not answer those questions but said the case remains an active and ongoing criminal investigation.
