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Pedestrian, Fleeing a Deputy, Is Hit by SUV in Palm Harbor

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The man had been drinking, according to the Pinellas sheriff.

PALM HARBOR – A man, who was trying to get away from a deputy, was seriously injured Wednesday (Jan. 25) when he darted into traffic and was hit, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said.

Matthew Lindley, 29, of  3164 Claremont Place, Apt. C, Palm Harbor, received life-threatening injuries. He was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital. No one else was hurt, deputies said.

The crash happened about 9:30 p.m. Deputy Ian Collman, 38, was on patrol when he saw a dark colored SUV stopped in the northbound lanes of U.S. 19 N south of Tampa Road. Deputies said Collman made a U-turn to investigate when he saw a man get out of the SUV, which drove away. Collman stopped the man, who was walking on the east sidewalk next to U.S. 19.

The man, whom Collman identified as Lindley, had been drinking and was impaired to extent that he was a danger to himself or others. Deputies said Collman tried taking Lindley into protective custody, but Lindley resisted the deputy’s efforts and the two began struggling.

Lindley pulled away from Collman when he tried handcuff him. Deputies said Collman grabbed Lindley’s T-shirt to regain control of Lindley, but Lindley broke free by pulling off his T-shirt
and ran into westbound traffic. Lindley ran into the path of a 2010 Ford Escape driven by Malcon Suttie, 82, which was headed north on U.S.19. The Ford hit Lindley.

Collman gave aid to Lindley before he was taken to St. Joseph’s, deputies said.

Deputies said Suttie showed no signs of impairment and speed was not a factor in the crash.

Lindley had an active warrant for failure to appear- possession of drug paraphernalia and a writ of bodily attachment for child support, deputies said.

For information about the Pinellas sheriff, go to pcsoweb.com.

Pinellas Sheriff | Pedestrian Injured | Man Flees Deputy | U.S. 19 Accident | TB Reporter

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