A Bay County Sheriff’s deputy and an Indiana woman are in the hospital after a wreck Thursday.
Bay County Sheriff’s Office Field Services deputy Cpl. Daren Priest, 43, Panama City, was transported to a local hospital Thursday morning with serious injuries after his vehicle was struck by another car while he was on duty, officials wrote in a news release.
At about 10 a.m., Priest’s patrol car was located on the side of the road, near the intersection of Tammy Pitts Road and U.S. 231 in Fountain. It was struck in the rear by another vehicle, causing Priest’s patrol car to move approximately 40 yards from the site of the impact, the news release states. According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, the driver of the other vehicle was Sylvia Dart, 70, Fremont, Ind. She told state troopers she fell asleep while driving, FHP said. She was charged with failing to stay in her lane, the report said.
Priest has what appear to be neck and back injuries, officials added.