Deputy badly hurt by 19-year-old driver outside high school graduation, Florida cops say
A deputy directing traffic was critically hurt when a driver ran over him outside a Florida high school graduation ceremony, according to the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office.
It happened about 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 23, as a crowd was exiting ceremonies for Lecanto High School, about 80 miles north of Tampa, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
“While several of our deputies were directing traffic ... a motorist traveling south on South Lecanto Highway struck Deputy Andy Lahera,” the sheriff’s office said.
“Deputy Lahera ... sustained multiple broken bones, fractures, abrasions, and internal injuries. At this time, Deputy Lahera remains unconscious but is surrounded by his wife, children, and several of his CCSO family members.”
Another deputy was just feet away and immediately began life saving measures, officials said.
Lahera is in critical but stable condition, officials said in a May 25 update.
He has been with the department since 2009 and has served as a school resource deputy since 2018. He is currently assigned to Lecanto Middle School, officials said. He was on duty at the time of the incident, officials said.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the accident, which involved a 19-year-old woman from Homosassa, officials said. Her identity has not been released.
Detectives report she was on traveling on County Road 491 (also known as South Lecanto Highway) near the entrance to the campus when she “failed to observe” Lahera and struck him. Details of his injuries were not released.
Lahera, 50, was wearing a reflective vest and carrying a glowing traffic wand, officials say.
Investigators have not released details of charges against the driver.
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