28-Year-Old Largo Woman Killed In Crash Involving Pinellas Deputy

PINELLAS PARK, FL -- A 28-year-old Largo is dead as a result of an early-morning accident involving a Pinellas County Sheriff's deputy.

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, at 3:08 a.m. Thursday, Deputy Jonathan Ferguson has just finished his shift and was traveling north on 66th Street North in a marked sheriff's Chevrolet Tahoe approaching the intersection of 126nd Avenue North.

Richard Peterson, 74, of Essex Road, Pinellas Park, was also headed north on 66th Street North in a Chevy Equinox.

They had both come to a stop at the red light at the intersection of 66th Street North and 126th Avenue North when Brittney Hunter of Canterbury Lane in Largo, who was driving a Buick LaSabre south in the northbound lanes of 66th Street North crossed the intersection and struck Peterson's vehicle head on. That impact pushed Peterson's vehicle into Ferguson's sheriff's vehicle. Peterson's Chevy Equinox rolled onto the driver's side.

Paramedics responded to the scene and transported Hunter to a local hospital where she later died.

Ferguson and Peterson were also transported to a local hospital for minor injuries. Both have been released.

Impairment does appear to be a factor in the crash.

(For more local news from Florida, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)