Clearwater Police Officer Struck by Van

A 25-year veteran of the Clearwater Police Department was injured Monday afternoon when a van driving along South Highland Avenue struck her.

According to the police department, Officer Fontayne Egger was working an extra-duty assignment related to a turkey giveaway at the Salvation Army when the crash occurred. Egger was on South Highland Avenue around 1 p.m. directing traffic when a van attempting to turn north onto Highland “suddenly accelerated and veered into her,” an email from department spokesman Rob Shaw said.

After hitting the officer, the van, driven by Donna J. Jones, 62, of Clearwater ran over a curb and went onto the sidewalk.

Jones told investigators her accelerator stuck.

Egger, 49, was taken to Bayfront Health for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Jones and her passenger were uninjured.

South Highland Avenue closed down for several hours following the crash.

The investigation continues.

Photo of the crash scene courtesy of the Clearwater Police Department