Published on Monday, January 23, 2006
in the WJXT News

Trooper With Family History Of Tragedy Critically Injured

A Florida Highway Patrol officer whose father was killed in Central Florida during a high-speed pursuit was critically injured Sunday after being hit by a car in South Florida, according to WKMG-TV.

Trooper Darryl Haywood Jr. was in his patrol car writing a ticket in Miami Sunday when a driver of a white Dodge pickup veered from the center lane and slammed into the officer's cruiser.

Haywood was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Doctors said Haywood will likely survive the crash, WKMG-TV reported Sunday night.

The crash comes less than two years after his father, Darryl Haywood Sr., was killed on Interstate 4 in Volusia County. Haywood Sr. was killed in a crash while attempting to stop a high-speed drag race in Oct. 2004.

Haywood Jr. told WKMG-TV in an earlier interview that he was born to be an officer.

"It seems like a calling almost," Haywood Jr. said. "When I get behind the wheel I'm not nervous. It seems like it was made for me to do."

Charges against the driver of the pickup are pending the outcome of blood test results.

The wreck closed the road for hours as rescue crews helped Haywood Jr.