I-4 Driver Cited After Sideswiping VCSO Deputy's Vehicle

Posted

03-09 VCSO deputy sideswiped on I-4

Deltona, FL - The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office is asking drivers to slow down and move over for flashing lights and roadside emergencies after a deputy was nearly hit by a passing car at the scene of a motorcycle accident.

It happened around 1 AM Wednesday on the eastbound side of Interstate 4 at Mile Marker 107. That's near the Dirksen Drive exit.

VCSO spokesman Andrew Gant says it all started when a deputy spotted 2 bikes down in the center lane and an injured rider in the emergency lane.

The deputy turned on his lights and went to check on the injured man and protect him from oncoming traffic, but he called for additional units when he saw that traffic wasn’t slowing down despite the flashing lights, per Gant.

That same deputy was nearly hit by a passing car when re-positioning his vehicle to block oncoming traffic from the scene, according to the incident report.

It was a few minutes after that when 2 more patrol cars arrived on scene with lights and sirens on after rushing about 5 miles on I-4, per Gant.

"Once on scene, one of the newly arriving deputies started to get out of his vehicle, then looked behind him and saw a car approaching at high speed," Gant stated. "He got back in the driver's seat and had just started to pull away when the oncoming car swiped the side of the patrol car, swerved to miss another one, and finally jerked to a stop."

No one was injured in the accident. The driver was given a citation.

VCSO is asking people to use this incident as a reminder to slow down and move over for flashing lights and roadside emergencies, something that is required by law.

"Your men and women in uniform are out there trying to help people in dire need and they’re putting themselves in danger to do their jobs," Gant noted. "Please put yourselves in their shoes and help us use this near-miss to avoid a tragedy in the future."

Photo above of actual vehicles involved is courtesy of VCSO.

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