Police say driver texting before fatal crash that closed US 1 for hours

Detectives say man had cellphone in his hand when they found body

MIAMI – A man who was texting and driving was killed in a crash early Thursday morning that shut down the southbound lanes of U.S. Highway 1 for several hours.

Miami police said the driver, identified as Maynor De Jesus Portobanco, 25, was traveling south on U.S. 1 in his blue Ford Explorer, when the SUV drifted into two palm trees, crossed the median and landed on top of a northbound car near 37th Avenue.

Witnesses said they saw the driver texting at the wheel as he went through the intersection.

The driver of the car that had the SUV land on it walked away with minor injuries.

Detectives said that when they got to Portobanco in the SUV, he still had his cellphone in his hand. They also said they found cocaine in his car.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The crushed SUV was towed to the medical examiner's office with Portobanco's body still inside.