On Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at approximately 5:23 AM, a serious vehicle collision occurred on Hudson Avenue involving an Amerigas Propane tanker truck and a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office vehicle.
The propane tanker was driven by a 60-year-old man from Spring Hill, was reversing across the eastbound and westbound lanes of Hudson Avenue into a private driveway at 15222 Hudson Avenue in Pasco County.
A marked Pinellas Sheriff’s Office Chevy Tahoe driven by a 32-year-old Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Dakota Dellechiaie, was traveling eastbound on Hudson Avenue when it collided with the trailer portion of the tanker, west of Hays Road. Deputy Dellechiaie was in his agency-issued vehicle and enroute to work his assigned shift.
Pasco Fire Rescue responded to the scene and extricated Deputy Dellechiaie from the cruiser. He was transported to Bayonet Point Hospital Trauma Center with very serious head injuries, and he is stable at this time.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. The Sheriff’s Office stated they are deeply grateful for Pasco County Fire Rescue, Florida Highway Patrol, and hospital personnel for their life-saving care.
Deputy Dellechiaie was hired in 2019 and is currently assigned to the Patrol Operations Bureau.
He and his wife have four children. They ask that you respect the family’s privacy during this time.
The driver of the tanker truck was uninjured.
Motorists should continue to avoid Hudson Avenue for the next several hours as fire crews burn off the minor amount of propane that had previously been in the tanker at the time of the collision.
