FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - An investigation is underway after a Davie Police Sergeant was struck by a vehicle while trying to help another motorist on Interstate 75.
Police said the sergeant was struck just after midnight, Wednesday, along the southbound lanes of I-75, near the Griffin Road exit and Royal Palm Boulevard.
“I-75’s under construction out there,” said Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Richard Glass. “In the area where the crashes occurred, there’s no lighting, it’s very dark.”
According to Florida Highway Patrol, Sgt. Patricia Ravine had stopped on the side of the highway to assist a driver whose white Ford Explorer had flipped over.
“A Davie sergeant had stopped,” said Glass, “and while she had exited her vehicle to check on the driver of the rollover vehicle, she was walking on the western shoulder of the southbound lanes when she was struck by another vehicle that had traveled southbound.”
As she was checking out the crash, the driver of a Kia sedan swerved to avoid hitting her patrol vehicle and ended up striking Ravine instead.
“[The driver] swerved to avoid her patrol vehicle, ended up driving on the shoulder where the sergeant was, and ended up striking the sergeant,” added Glass. “The sergeant came to rest along the shoulder of the road and the vehicle that struck her went down the embankment.”
Ravine was airlifted to Broward Health Medical Center. She is now in the intensive care unit but is said to be in stable condition. According to Davie Police, her injuries were not life-threatening.
The driver of the Kia who struck the officer remained on the scene and has been charged with reckless driving. The driver of the Ford Explorer involved in the rollover crash was arrested and charged with DUI, according to Florida Highway Patrol.
“[We’d like to] advise motorists, when they see emergency vehicles, there’s lights activated, especially out here on the interstate. Slow down, pay attention to what’s going on,” Glass said.
Ravine has been with Davie Police for about 10 years.
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