BREAKING NEWS
Three officers run down after helping with crash
Photographer: WFTS
Copyright 2013 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Posted: 03/11/2013
ST. PETERSBURG - The search is on for a driver who hit three officers as he tried to get away from police, blocking the scene of an accident.
That accident occurred Monday near the intersection of Neptune and Beach Dr. on Coquina Key and resulted downed power lines.
While fire rescue personnel were clearing the crash, uniformed officers were blocking nearby streets to prevent others from entering the dangerous area.
That's when a silver four-door sedan approached the intersection at a high rate of speed, and then came to an abrupt stop. The officer at that intersection approached the male driver and immediately detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the car.
The officer ordered him to shut the vehicle off. The driver complied.
The officer then told the driver and his male passenger to exit the car, but it appeared both subjects were reluctant to comply and the officer requested the assistance of two other nearby officers.
Officers assisted the passenger, Donald Callaway, 26, out of the car and then turned their attention to the driver.
As they opened the door, the driver quickly restarted the car and took off, and struck the three officers.
The car crashed into a parked fire rescue truck, but the driver was able to take off.
Officer Brian Pest, 41, was transported to a local hospital. He is currently in fair condition and his injuries do not appear serious.
The other two officers, Scott Kirpan, 30, and Timothy Reyes, 29, did not sustain significant injuries.
Officials said they have identified the driver, but are withholding his identity to protect the investigation.
Stay with ABC Action News and abcactionnews.com for the latest updates.
Copyright 2013 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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