A serious vehicular incident in Ruskin, Florida, left a Hillsborough County deputy seriously injured after his unmarked patrol car was struck by an alleged drunk driver on the night of September 14. The crash took place around 10:30 p.m. at the intersection of SR-674 and 15th Street. Deputy Ivan Clark, 47, was ejected from his Chevy Tahoe after it was hit by a Ford F-150, driven by 25-year-old Uriel Garcia Nestor, causing the vehicle to overturn multiple times, according to WFLA.
Following the accident, which resulted in Clark being airlifted to Tampa General Hospital, Florida Highway Patrol reported that the driver of the pickup, Garcia Nestor, exhibited signs of impairment. As obtained by WSPA, initial tests showed his blood alcohol level to be at 0.121, above the legal limit.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office issued a statement reiterating the gravity of driving under the influence. "Our thoughts are with Deputy Clark, his family and friends during this difficult time," Sheriff Chad Chronister said, while emphasizing, "This incident is a stark reminder of the dangers impaired drivers pose to our community. It is deeply disappointing that someone would make the reckless decision to drive impaired, not only endangering their own life but putting everyone else on the road at risk," as shared in a post from the official HCSO Twitter account and a photo of the wreckage was shared indicating the severity of the crash.
🚨 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 🚨
— HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) September 15, 2024
On September 14, Deputy Ivan Clark, 47, was on East College Avenue, responding to a call in Ruskin, when his vehicle was struck by a Ford F-150 driven by Uriel Garcia… pic.twitter.com/Oh7TJBUfUe
In the aftermath of the collision, with an image showing the damaged patrol car and deployed airbag painted a harrowing picture, Nestor was arrested and now faces charges including DUI causing serious bodily injury, DUI causing property damage, and driving with a suspended license, as noted by HCSO. Following the incident, Clark remains hospitalized but in stable condition.
No stranger to DUI-related emergencies, Sharon Hall, Program Manager for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, voiced her frustration, saying, "Regardless of what it is, citizen or law enforcement officers, it’s 100% preventable and it just makes me shake my head. I can’t figure out why people just can’t figure it out," in a statement obtained by WFLA.
Uriel Garcia Nestor is scheduled for his first court appearance on the afternoon following his arrest.
