Deputy, Paramedic Trapped When Live Power Lines Fall On Patrol Car

BARTOW, FL — A Polk County deputy and paramedic were trapped for two hours inside a patrol car when live power lines fell on the vehicle. The pair had just left Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, where they had dropped off an elderly patient, and were returning to north Lakeland when a power pole fell in the hurricane winds.

Sgt. Chris Lynn and Polk County Fire Rescue paramedic James Tanner Schaill stayed inside a Polk County Sheriff’s Office patrol car late Sunday night after electric lines fell on it while they were driving on Lakeland Hills Boulevard near Robson Street, the sheriff's office said.

Lakeland Electric crews disconnected the lines and freed the responders from the patrol car at about 1:15 a.m. Monday. Both then returned to work to assist in hurricane recovery efforts.

Watch: Up Close Views Of Powerful Irma

The mess of downed trees, damaged buildings and downed power lines — both live and inactive — is a threat that has authorities statewide urging people to stay inside on Monday. In Pinellas County, officials said nobody is allowed into the area Monday as they assess the damage from Hurricane Irma and search for trouble spots.

And on Sunday a Hardee County Deputy Sheriff and a corrections officer were killed in a two-car wreck when their vehicles collided, according to Hardee County Sheriff Arnold Lanier. Deputy Julie Bridges and correctional officer Sgt. Joseph Ossman were killed in the line of duty during Hurricane Irma, officials say. She had been working at an emergency shelter and drove home to pick up a few items, Lanier said. She was on her way back to the shelter when the wreck happened.

There were no other passengers in either vehicle, according to Lanier.

Images via Polk County Sheriff's Office Facebook page