PALM COAST, Fla. – Two Flagler County sheriff’s deputies riding motorcycles Tuesday morning were struck by a vehicle near Palm Coast, officials said.
The crash happened before noon on Palm Coast Parkway NE at Clubhouse Drive, east of I-95.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a vehicle heading west on Palm Coast Parkway in the middle lane attempted a left turn into a gas station parking lot.
The motorcyclists, Master Deputy Greg Nunziato and Deputy Matthew Mortimer, were traveling in the left lane and collided with the side of the sedan, troopers said.
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According to Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly, one deputy was pinned under his motorcycle while the other was thrown into the air.
An FHP crash report listed the deputies’ injuries as serious, and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office added that Nunziato and Mortimer suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
“We’re lucky we’re not burying deputies today because of an errant driver who wasn’t paying attention,” Staly said during a news conference. “... Totally could have been avoided.”
On social media, the sheriff said in a statement, “I want to remind everyone to stay alert, keep your eyes on the road, obey all traffic signs and signals, and do not use your phone while driving.”
Staly said the driver, a 30-year-old DeLand man, was cited for improper lane change and charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.