LUBBOCK, TX — Lubbock Police have arrested a man in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash that claimed the life of 18-year-old Zak Bol, a former Randall High School basketball standout, and left another man injured.
Julian Mercado, 43, was arrested on Friday, November 22, for failure to stop and render aid causing death after investigators identified him as the driver of the vehicle involved in the crash.
Mercado’s bond has been set at $100,000.
The incident occurred on Tuesday evening, November 19, when Bol and his friend, Benjamin Brown, 18, were walking on the Idalou Road access road around 7:25 p.m. According to police, the two were struck by an unknown vehicle, which fled the scene immediately after the collision. Bol was pronounced dead at the scene, while Brown was transported to University Medical Center with moderate injuries.
Bol, who graduated from Randall High School in May 2024, had been a key player for the Randall Raiders basketball team. Despite missing his senior year due to a knee injury, Bol helped lead the team to its first-ever state tournament appearance in 2023 and again in 2024 under coach Leslie Broadhurst.
A petition for justice for Zak Bol and Ben Brown can be found here. A recent update from the campaign creator states that the petition will make a major impact in the case. So far, there has been 2,065 of the needed 3,000 signatures on the petition. The campaign creator believes that Mercado should be charged with murder.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing, and Lubbock police continue to seek additional information from the public.
Anyone with details is encouraged to contact Detective McPherson at 806-775-2762 or Crime Line at 806-741-1000, where callers can remain anonymous.
Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
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