Truck Driver Cited For Not Moving Over, Hitting Fire Rescue Truck

RUSKIN, FL -- A 56-year-old Tampa man has been cited for failure to move over after hitting a Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Truck that was stopped on Interstate 75.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, at about 2:45 a.m. Monday, Jan. 14, George Edward Morgan was driving a semi-tractor-trailer truck north on Interstate 75 near the State Road 672 exit in Ruskin when he struck the fire rescue truck.

The truck was parked in the outside lane with its emergency lights activated after responding to a call for help.

Troopers say Morgan didn't see that the outside lane had been closed for the emergency. He attempted to steer left to avoid the rescue truck but ended up sideswiping it.

No one was in the rescue truck at the time and there were no injuries.

The accident comes just two weeks after the state initiated a campaign to educate drivers on Florida's Move Over law.

Florida law requires drivers to Move Over a lane — when it is safe to do so — for stopped law enforcement, emergency, sanitation, utility service vehicles and tow trucks or wreckers.

Drivers who are unable to move over are required to slow to a speed that is 20 mph less than the posted speed limit.

Violating the Move Over law can result in a fine, fees, and points on the violator's driving record.

According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, more than 150 law enforcement officers have been killed since 1999 after being struck by vehicles along America's roadways.

Images via FHP

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