Florida Highway Patrol car destroyed in crash during traffic stop, troopers say

Hillsborough County, Florida – Four people, including a police officer, were injured after a Florida Highway Patrol car was vandalized and collided during a traffic stop in Hillsborough County on Sunday morning, officers said.

The accident occurred on New Year’s Day at mile marker 12.5 on the Veterans Expressway, or State Road 589, at approximately 11:00 a.m., accident reports show.

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A 61-year-old FHP trooper pulled over a 59-year-old man who was driving a sedan south for speeding in SR 589, according to reports.

When the drivers, both from Land O Lakes, pulled over on the shoulder of SR 589, a 52-year-old Newport Richie man was driving an SUV that was “too fast for wet road conditions”, but on the same road. I lost control and rear-ended an FHP. Police car, report shows.

According to reports, the impact of the crash caused the police car to collide with the vehicle in front, which also had a 25-year-old passenger.

Police cars, sedans and SUVs all stopped along the outer shoulder of the highway, security said.

All four people involved in the crash suffered minor injuries, FHP said.

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