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Driver Arrested After Traffic Crash with Pinellas Deputy

Jeronimo Panzo Herrera | Pinellas Sheriff | Arrests

He had no valid driver’s license, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said.

CLEARWATER – A Clearwater man was cited and arrested Wednesday (May 30) after a traffic crash with a deputy on McMullen Booth Road, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputy Rick Serra Jr., 52, suffered minor injuries in the crash. He was taken to a hospital by another deputy. The other driver, Jeronimo Panzo Herrera, 31, of Clearwater, refused medical treatment at the scene.

Herrera was cited for careless driving and was arrested and cited for no valid driver’s license. Investigators said they do not believe speed or impairment was a factor in the crash.

The crash happened about 8:55 p.m. on McMullen Booth Road at Martin Luther King Street in Clearwater.

Deputies said Serra was on-duty traveling southbound on McMullen Booth in a fully marked 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe. Herrera was driving a 2006 Ford F-150 southbound on McMullen Booth directly behind Serra.

Serra saw a disabled vehicle stopped in the roadway on McMullen Booth at Martin Luther King Street with its emergency flashers activated. Serra turned on his emergency lights and slowed to a stop to cross traffic and help the disabled vehicle.

Herrera failed to stop and struck Serra’s rear bumper.

Pinellas Sheriff | Traffic Crash | Deputy-Involved Crash | Crime | Arrests | Tampabay News

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