Pinellas Deputy Injured in Crash Early Friday Morning
The crash occurred at about 6:00 a.m. on March 10, 2017 at the intersection of 49th Street North and 140th Avenue North, in unincorporated Clearwater.
According to investigators from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Dimetria Spanolios-Braden was driving her department issued, unmarked 2013 Chevrolet Impala, northbound on 49th Street in the median lane when she entered the intersection of 140th Avenue North, with a green traffic signal.
At about the same time, 53-year-old John R. Comerford of Georgia, was driving a 2017 Ford Expedition southbound on 49th Street, when he made a left eastbound turn on 140th Avenue North, with a green traffic signal but no green light turn arrow.
Both vehicles entered the intersection simultaneously causing Comerford’s Ford Expedition to crash into the driver’s side front fender of Deputy Spanolios-Braden’s Chevrolet Impala.
Deputy Spanolios-Braden was transported to a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
Comerford was not injured and refused medical treatment at the scene.
Neither speed nor impairment were factors in the crash.
Investigators issued Comerford a civil non-criminal Uniform Traffic Citation for failure to yield the right of way. The civil traffic infraction carries a $166 dollar fine.
The investigation continues.