A driver, distracted by her cell phone, rear ended the prison transport van, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff.

LARGO – A prisoner being taken to jail was injured Monday (July 3) when the transport van was rear ended, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said.

Lukasz Jan Tatarczuch, 34, of Clearwater, who was handcuffed in the van, was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. G4S Security Officer Janice Blue, 59, was also taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. G4S Security provides prisoner transport for the Pinellas sheriff. There were no other injuries.

Sarah Pilla, 26, of Clearwater, was cited for careless driving, deputies said.

The crash happened about 1 p.m. at the intersection of 49th Street N and 144th Avenue. Blue was driving a sheriff’s 2009 Chevrolet prisoner transport van that was stopped at the red traffic light on 49th. A 2005 Dodge Durango driven by Pilla was behind the transport van slowing to stop for the same red traffic light.

When the traffic light turned green, deputies said, Pilla was distracted when she looked down at her cell phone. The Dodge rear-ended the transport van.

Both vehicles sustained minor damage.

Deputies said impairment and speed were not factors in the crash.

Before the crash, Pinellas deputies had arrested Tatarczuch and charged him with driving while driver’s license suspendedrevoked. Tatarczuch was being transported by G4S Security to the Pinellas County Jail for the criminal charge.

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

Pinellas Sheriff | Traffic Crash | Prisoner Injured | Traffic Accident | Tampa Bay News | TB Reporter

#PinellasSheriff #TrafficCrash #PrisonerInjured #TrafficAccident #TampaBayNews #TBReporter