Orange City, FL - A Volusia County Sheriff's Office deputy ends up in the hospital with serious injuries after colliding with a Ford pickup this afternoon (November 6th) on Interstate 4 in Orange City.
The wreck happened on the eastbound side of I-4 near Saxon Boulevard/Mile Marker 111 around 12:15 p.m., according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
FHP Lieutenant Kim Montes says based on a witness statement, it appears that the deputy - 43-year-old Timothy Wheeler of Port Orange - was on his department-issued motorcycle when he and the Ford driver tried to merge into the same lane.
"The right side of the [Ford] struck the left side of the [motorcycle]," Montes added. "The crash remains under investigation."
The VCSO deputy was using the right lane on I-4 when he attempted to go into the center lane, while the driver of the 2006 Ford - 79-year-old Charles Zook of Deltona - was trying to enter the center lane at the same time from the left lane, per the FHP report.
Zook wasn't hurt in the crash and was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash, according to Montes. The VCSO deputy was wearing a helmet.
Neither alcohol nor drugs are believed to be a factor for either motorist.
