Troopers: 3 hospitalized after crash involving Orange County deputy

Three people, including an Orange County deputy, were taken to the hospital with minor injuries after a three-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon, troopers say.

The crash happened as the deputy was trying to make a U-turn at an intersection near Kirkman Road and State Road 408 about 3:15 p.m., according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

He was responding to a call in his patrol car and had his lights and sirens on as he turned in the intersection, highway patrol Sgt. Kim Montes said.

A motorist didn’t yield and plowed into the side of his patrol car, Montes said. Two people inside the car were injured and taken to the hospital.

Another vehicle, which did yield, was hit after the cars ricocheted after the accident. No one inside the vehicle was injured.

The deputy, who has not been identified, was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office would not say what call the deputy was responding to when the crash happened.

A second patrol car crash was reported nearly three hours later near the Lockhart area in Orange County. The crash happened about 6 p.m. near Forest City Road and Riverside Park, about 8 miles from the first crash.

A civilian backed into deputy’s patrol cruiser and left minor damage, according to Jane Watrel, a Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman. No injuries were reported.

Montes said it’s not out of the ordinary to have back-to-back crashes involving law enforcement.

“We handle about 10 a month,” she said. “When you drive as much as we do, people are bound to run into you.”

No other details were immediately available.

chayes@orlandosentinel.com, @Journo_Christal or 407-420-5493