ST. PETERSBURG – A Florida sheriff’s deputy working an in a single day shift to supply security at a building zone was struck and killed by a employee working a front-end loader.
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Hartwick had began his shift shortly earlier than the incident occurred late Thursday on Interstate 275, based on Sheriff Bob Gualtieri.
Victor Vazquez-Real, 35, fled the scene, however was arrested early Friday.
The sheriff stated Hartwick had blocked the 2 inside southbound lanes of the interstate and was standing on the highway’s shoulder when he was struck by the front end loader touring at about 20 mph. He died immediately
The building employee continued driving for about one mile earlier than stopping in a car parking zone, the sheriff stated. He then instructed one other building employee that he had killed a deputy. That employee took Vasquez-Real’s gear and hid it in a wooded space, the sheriff stated.
The sheriff stated Vazquez-Real might be charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving demise. The different building employee is being charged with accent after the actual fact.
Hartwick had been with the company for 19 years.
“Mike was a good guy, a good cop,” Gualtieri stated. “He did his job.”