A man was hospitalized with minor injuries after his SUV struck a Flagler County Sheriff’s deputy’s cruiser at Palm Coast Parkway and Pine Lakes Parkway at 10 a.m. Thursday. The deputy, James Gore, was not injured.
According to Sheriff’s Sgt. Philip Reynolds, Gore was on an emergency call heading south on Pine Lakes Parkway. The driver of the GMC Envoy XL, whose identity has not been released, was heading east on Palm Coast Parkway. The SUV struck the Crown Victoria on its passenger side, sending the cruiser toward the guardrail in the northbound right-turn lane of Pine Lakes, where the cruiser ended up facing south. The SUV ended up parallel to Palm Coast Parkway, facing west, a few feet north of the cruiser.
The victim was speaking and on his feet at the scene, Reynolds said. Gore remained at the scene and spoke with authorities. He’s been with the sheriff’s office a little over two years. The cruiser involved is No. 3836.
It’s not yet clear whether a red light was violated, or if so, who had violated it: the Sheriff’s Office’s Mark Carman has requested the video footage from the red-light cameras at that intersection. The cruiser’s lights were still activated after the wreck.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the wreck. FHP usually releases the names of individuals involved in non-traumatic or fatal wrecks at the scene itself. The FHP investigator in this case declined to do so.
The wreck closed Pine Lakes Parkway in both directions at 10 a.m., from Palm Coast Parkway to Commerce Boulevard. Eastbound traffic on Palm Coast Parkway was briefly closed as well to enable the taking of measurements. Southbound traffic on Pine Lakes was resumed around 11 a.m.
The Palm Coast Fire Department, Flagler County Fire Rescue and the Palm Coast Fire Police responded to the wreck.
All lanes reopened at 12:25 p.m.
open eyes says
when are people going to care about others ,when you hear and see emergency cruisers comeing pull over, their are some really dumn people out their, if it’s does not have any thing to do with them who care,I’m sorry but if this police officer was going to help this guy out in an emergency he would not like if some one not take the extra step to get help faster, he was in to big of a hurry to go shoping or what ever. and not thinking of others.
confidential says
As far is my concern….law enforcement and any other emergency service vehicle, has always the right of way! What is going on with these drivers?
orphan says
Oh my goodness. :)
johnson says
If the SUV had a green light, with windows closed, the deputy still needs to yield and check before driving thru the red light. But need to wait and see the video recording before blaming anyone.
Dave says
I believe I read where it said ( quote ) It’s not yet clear whether a red light was violated, or if so, who had violated it, Please do not assume that the patrol car was using it’s sirens as well until FHP releases their report. Let’s just be thankful that no one was seriously hurt.
Outsider says
Is it not possible the driver traveling eastbound in the van had the green light and did not see the cruiser coming through the intersection? A lot would depend, in that case, how fast the cruiser was traveling through the intersection. I don’t think any conclusions can be drawn until eyewitness testimony and red light video camera evidence is analyzed.
Geezer says
I don’t care if Jesus was driving.
You must look for cars when going through red lights.
Blowing through red lights without looking and without consequences is a TV thing.
There is no justification if a deputy happens to kill a family or other innocents.
Beach Guy says
Yeah…that pretty much wraps up the Gator’s season, in a nutshell.
Ray Thorne says
Aleast the deputy was stil in the State….