Published on Sunday, May 20, 2007
in the MyFox Tampa News

Three FHP troopers hit by drunk driver

Three troopers were hit while assisting at an accident on I-275 in Pinellas County on Saturday night. ST. PETERSBURG – Three Florida Highway Patrol troopers were seriously injured on Saturday night when they were hit along a Pinellas County roadway.

Investigators say the three troopers were working at the scene of a deadly accident on Interstate 275 in St. Petersburg when they were hit by a drunk driver. The accident happened around 8:00 p.m.

According to authorities, the 24-year-old driver of a motorcycle lost control and hit the guard rail of the roadway near the 38th Avenue North exit. The troopers were investigating that crash when the a man in a Honda Civic swerved and lost control of his car, slamming into a police cruiser and hitting the troopers.

All three of the troopers who were hit were taken to the hospital, and they had surgery on Sunday morning. Their names and conditions were not released.

The driver of the Civic sustained minor injuries. Officers arrested that driver on both felony and misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence, but they did not release the individual's identity.