Published on Sunday, May 20, 2007
in the Lakeland Ledger

3 Florida Highway Patrol troopers hurt at crash scene

Three Florida Highway Patrol troopers were seriously hurt when a drunk driver crashed into the scene of a fatal accident they were investigating, authorities said.

Troopers Rhonda Hendee, Gregory Taylor and Eugene Lebrenz suffered broken bones, sprains and other injuries as a result of the Saturday night crash, but none appeared to be life threatening, FHP Lt. Bruce Doras said Sunday.

The troopers had closed two lanes of I-275 Saturday to investigate a motorcycle crash that killed a 24-year-old man. The officers were using a highway signal board, flares and cones and their patrol cars with emergency lights on to block off the crash scene, an FHP report said.

About 11:02 p.m., the diver of a Honda Civic swerved to avoid slower traffic and lost control. The Civic slammed into a police cruiser and then hit the troopers, who were all on foot, the FHP reported. The motorist and the troopers were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The driver of the Civic, 19-year-old Robert M. Taylor of St. Petersburg, was treated for minor injuries and then arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges driving under the influence. He was being held in the Pinellas County Jail Sunday on bonds totaling $31,000.

It was not immediately known if Taylor had an attorney.