Police suspect a driver who struck a road ranger around 2 a.m. on Sept. 14 may have been drunk at the wheel. The car accident that injured the Florida ranger is still under investigation, and it is unclear whether the 19-year-old driver has been formally charged at this time. However, it has been confirmed the young man is in police custody.
According to the accident report, the ranger was in the process of attending to an accident scene and assisting individuals involved in that accident when the second crash occurred. The ranger was outside his vehicle when he was struck by the 19-year-old driver. He suffered head trauma, severe lacerations to his leg and a number of other injuries. While he is expected to recover, the duration of his recovery time is still unknown. He was rushed to a local hospital following the arrival of medical personnel.
The driver of the car was arrested on the scene. It is unclear whether he suffered any injuries in the crash or whether he was cooperative with police at the time of his arrest. He is currently still in a local jail awaiting court proceedings, which has not yet been announced.
If Florida prosecutors can prove the man was drunk behind the wheel at the time of the car accident, the 19-year-old could face jail time and other penalties. The injured ranger will be entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit regardless of the outcome of the criminal trial. If sufficient evidence of negligence is presented to the court, the civil case could result in financial remuneration for the ranger and his family.
Source: CBS Miami, “Road Ranger Hit By Car While Helping Motorists“, Maggie Newland, Sept. 14, 2014