A Mount Dora police officer is reported to be distraught after striking and killing a pedestrian Saturday night, October 8. The officer was traveling north on Royal Trails Road in Eustis, according to a report in The Orlando Sentinel. That is where he encountered a 31-year-old man in the center of the road.
Troopers suspect that the pedestrian was intoxicated and are awaiting toxicology reports. Another motorist reportedly almost hit the man before the officer’s Florida car accident. The officer is now on paid administrative leave after having only been on the job for 14 months. Mount Dora officers are allowed to take their cars home, in this case the car involved was a Ford Expedition. The next step for this officer is to undergo an internal review which is typically done when a death is involved.
Pedestrian Deaths
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2001 Florida had five cities in the Top 10 for fatal pedestrian car accidents nationwide. They include Fort Lauderdale (12 pedestrian deaths), Miami (22), Tampa (18), Clearwater (5), and Orlando (9).
Although we do not know if alcohol led to this pedestrian tragedy, the NHTSA finds that 18 percent of accidents involve drivers who are intoxicated and in 32% of collisions, pedestrians are impaired.
Our condolences go out to the friends and family members of this man for his sudden passing.
Source: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/lake/os-mount-dora-cop-fatal-crash-20111010,0,6746815.story; http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/809-456.pdf
