Crystal Beach Woman Injured in US 19 Crash

The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a crash that injured a Tarpon Springs Police officer and two other people. It happened around 3:45 p.m. at the intersection of U.S. 19 and Nebraska Ave and closed a stretch of the road for two hours.

An initial investigation found that Tarpon Springs Police Officer Jose L. Yourgules, 45, was driving his police cruiser north on U.S. 19 when a 2003 GMC Envoy that was headed south ran a red light and turned left into the path of the cruiser.

The police cruiser hit the Envoy causing the Envoy to roll over and land on its roof in the intersection according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Two people were inside the Envoy. Monica E. McClure, 44, of Crystal Beach was driving. She was flown by a Bayflite helicopter to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg. McClure was in serious condition at the time she was airlifted. Her passenger, Marcus Hunter, 26, of Clearwater suffered minor injuries. He was transported by ambulance to Mease-Countryside Hospital in Safety Harbor. 

Officer Yourgules suffered minor injuries and was treated at Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital in Tarpon Springs.

Everyone involved in the crash was wearing seat-belts. 

The damage to the GMC Envoy is estimated at $10,000. The damage to the police cruiser, a 2007 Ford Crown Victoria, is estimated at $5,000.