A sheriff’s deputy with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office was killed in the line of duty by a drunk driver on Wednesday afternoon, officials said.
The deputy, 30, was killed in an accident that happened at Eastlake Road and Forelock Road in Pinellas County. He is survived by his wife and two young kids.
Rescue crews responded to reports of a person who passed out behind the wheel at a red light. When crews arrived and broke the window to the Ford F150 the suspect woke up and fled the scene.
Multiple deputies tried to stop the suspect who was driving recklessly down Keystone Road. The deputy put stop sticks in the road which caused the suspect to lose control of his truck and drive directly into him. The deputy was pronounced dead at the scene.
The suspect was drunk at the time of the crash, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said. He has 16 prior felonies on his record and was driving with a suspended license.
The suspect was not injured in the deadly crash. He was arrested and taken into custody, officials said. Charges are pending, officials said.
Officials will continue to investigate the crash site. East Lake road will be closed in both directions between Forelock and Keystone Roads, deputies said.
Comment from Anidjar and Levine:
Marc Anidjar, from the Law Firm of Anidjar and Levine, comments on this crash. “This unfortunate accident involving a police officer occurred at Eastlake Road and Forelock Road in Pinellas County. When you are harmed by a negligent driver in a vehicle crash, it is important to contact a lawyer who has experience in handling motor vehicle accident cases. The process of collecting damages from the party at fault is often complicated; however, our firm has the experience needed to navigate these types of claims.”
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