Pinellas County deputy seriously injured in tanker accident

SHADY HILLS, Fla. – A Pinellas County sheriff's deputy was hospitalized with serious injuries after colliding with a propane tanker truck in Pasco County, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The accident happened just before 5:30 a.m. Tuesday on Hudson Avenue west of Hays Road in Shady Hills, near Spring Hill.

According to police, an Amerigas propane tanker truck driven by a 60-year-old Spring Hill man backed across the eastbound and westbound lanes of Hudson Avenue to enter a private driveway.

While the tanker was backing up, an on-duty 32-year-old Pinellas sheriff's deputy drove his marked patrol car east along Hudson Avenue.

Just west of Hays Road, the deputy's Tahoe collided with the tanker and passed under the trailer portion. A photo from FHP shows the dented roof of the deputy's SUV.

The deputy suffered serious injuries as a result of the accident and was taken to an area hospital.

The tanker driver was not injured in the accident.