From Tampa Bay Times
[Photo courtesy of Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office]
TAMPA — A drunken driver heading the wrong way on a darkened road without headlights struck a Hillsborough County patrol cruiser early Sunday, pinning the injured deputy inside the car, authorities said.
The deputy’s rescue, sheriff’s spokesman Larry McKinnon said, then played out like a scene from a movie.
It started around 1 a.m. as a 2001 Ford Excursion traveled east — but in the westbound lanes — on Bearss Avenue, McKinnon said.
Headlights off, the sport utility vehicle went into the grass median near the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library at 2902 W. Bearss Ave. in northwest Hillsborough.
The SUV hit a small tree but kept going to the end of the median, continuing east into the westbound lanes again.
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office]
Hillsborough sheriff’s Deputy Juan Lazu’s cruiser burned after colliding with Angel Pena’s SUV, which also burst into flame. Pena reportedly drove into Lazu’s lane.
It veered into the path of Deputy Juan Lazu, 47, driving west on routine patrol, McKinnon said. Lazu didn’t see the SUV in time to avoid a collision.
The SUV, which authorities said was driven by Angel R. Pena, 42, of Tampa crashed nearly head-on into the 2011 Ford Crown Victoria. ….MORE
[Photo courtesy of Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office]
TAMPA — A drunken driver heading the wrong way on a darkened road without headlights struck a Hillsborough County patrol cruiser early Sunday, pinning the injured deputy inside the car, authorities said.
The deputy’s rescue, sheriff’s spokesman Larry McKinnon said, then played out like a scene from a movie.
It started around 1 a.m. as a 2001 Ford Excursion traveled east — but in the westbound lanes — on Bearss Avenue, McKinnon said.
Headlights off, the sport utility vehicle went into the grass median near the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library at 2902 W. Bearss Ave. in northwest Hillsborough.
The SUV hit a small tree but kept going to the end of the median, continuing east into the westbound lanes again.
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office]
Hillsborough sheriff’s Deputy Juan Lazu’s cruiser burned after colliding with Angel Pena’s SUV, which also burst into flame. Pena reportedly drove into Lazu’s lane.
It veered into the path of Deputy Juan Lazu, 47, driving west on routine patrol, McKinnon said. Lazu didn’t see the SUV in time to avoid a collision.
The SUV, which authorities said was driven by Angel R. Pena, 42, of Tampa crashed nearly head-on into the 2011 Ford Crown Victoria. ….MORE
