The incident happened in the drop-off loop at Calusa Elementary School.

NEW PORT RICHEY – The Pasco sheriff has accused a parent of intentionally hitting a 79-year-old volunteer with his car.

Lawrence Dean Franklin, 34, was charged with aggravated battery with a vehicle on a person over 65 years old, according to the Pasco County Sheriff.

The victim, William Denamen, was slightly injured, Pasco sheriff’s deputies said. His leg was bleeding and he had a noticeable limp, but he refused treatment by Pasco County Fire Rescue.

The incident happened about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday (Sept. 20) in the drop-off lane at Calusa Elementary School, 7520 Orchid Lake Road in New Port Richey. Deputies said Denamen, a school volunteer, was helping in the parent drop-off loop when Franklin refused to go into the proper lane. Being in the improper lane can endanger pedestrians during drop off.

Franklin refused to comply with the volunteer and took his foot “off the brake” of the 2006 Cadillac CTS he was driving while Denamen was standing in front of his vehicle to show he was serious and had to leave, deputies said. The Cadillac, which deputies said weighed more than 3,500 pounds, struck Denamen’s leg. According to deputies, Franklin said he “felt threatened” by Denamen when he told him to move into another lane.

For information about the Pasco sheriff, go to pascosheriff.com.

Pasco Sheriff | Calusa Elementary School | School Volunteer | Parent Arrested | TB Reporter

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