CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. -- A Charlotte County deputy and another driver sustained minor injuries in a crash on Interstate 75 Thursday night.
According to Florida Highway Patrol, it all started with an animal on the roadway just before 10 p.m.
Deputy Richard Nelson was driving a marked Charlotte County Sheriff's Office patrol car northbound on I-75 approaching Tuckers Grade when he decreased speed and activated his emergency lights when he saw the animal.
34-year-old Ryan Steagall was driving behind the deputy and failed to slow down in time and crashed into the rear of the patrol car, which began rotating and was hit by another northbound car.
Both Deputy Nelson and Steagall sustained minor injuries and were treated at Bayfront Punta Gorda.
The third driver was uninjured.
Steagall is facing a careless driving charge.
This is the second crash involving Southwest Florida law enforcement this week. On Monday an FHP trooper in Lee County was injured when their patrol car was rear-ended while stopped in the emergency lane to assist another driver.
