Pinellas Deputy Injured At Traffic Stop After Being Struck By Hit-And-Run Vehicle

DUNEDIN, FL — For the second time this week, a first responder was injured after being struck by a vehicle while performing her job.

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, Deputy Elizabeth Temple, assigned to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office DUI Unit, pulled over a Ford van at Skinner Boulevard and Highland Avenue on Thursday and approached the driver's side window.

While she was speaking to the driver, she noticed a 2016 Blue Mazda 6 traveling east on Skinner Boulevard toward her. She attempted to get out of the way, however, the driver's side mirror of the vehicle struck her, causing minor injuries. The car then drove off on Skinner Boulevard.

With the help of the sheriff's helicopter, deputies found the car parked at an apartment at 1125 Bass Blvd.

After several attempts, deputies found the car's owner, 32-year-old Jonathan Stuart Chinchilla, who was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving injury. The sheriff's office said Chinchilla appears to have been impaired when he struck the deputy.

Temple is a nine-year veteran of the sheriff's office.

A Palm Harbor firefighter is in critical condition after being struck by a pickup truck while at the scene of an accident Thursday.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is reminding drivers that there is a Move Over law in Florida. Drivers are required to move over a lane when approaching a stopped law enforcement or emergency vehicle or slow to 20 mph less than the posted speed limit when unable to move over or when driving on a two-lane road.

See related stories:

• Fund Set Up For Palm Harbor Fire Lieutenant Struck By Truck
• Firefighter Critical After Being Struck By Pickup At Crash Scene