A Sumter County Corrections Deputy was in critical condition Tuesday morning after being ejected from his vehicle in a Hernando County rollover crash on Cortez Blvd.
An FHP report said 31-year-old James Russo of Brooksville was off-duty at the time of the crash and was not wearing a seatbelt.
A crash investigation said the vehicle went into the median, overcorrected back onto the roadway and flipped. When the vehicle flipped, it crossed the median again and entered oncoming lanes. The force of the rollover ejected the deputy from the driver's seat.
A helicopter took Russo to the hospital, where he was treated for critical injuries and was still recovering early Tuesday morning.
There were no other passengers reported in the vehicle and no other injuries.
Both directions of Cortez Blvd. were temporarily closed near Lockhart Rd. for airlift and clean-up.
The crash was not alcohol-related, per FHP.
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