Crash Injures Inmate As Prison Van Hits Bicyclist: Pinellas Park

PINELLAS PARK — An inmate is injured after a Pinellas County Sheriff's Office transport van was struck by a bicyclist at 1:58 a.m. on April 29 at the intersection of Park Boulevard North and 71st Street North, police said.

According to authorities in a press release, a prisoner transport van driven by Security Officer Dale Hartzell was eastbound on Park Boulevard in the center lane. A 24-year-old bicyclist, Zachary Bailey, crossed Park Boulevard at the intersection of 71st Street against the crosswalk signal and swerved his bike into the back of the van, officers said.

Hartzell had a green light at the intersection, investigators said.

As Hartzell slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting Bailey, two inmates, Jennifer Rhoads and Bryan Lucas, were thrown into the metal partitions, according to a press release. Rhoads did not experience any injuries and was taken to the Pinellas County Jail. Lucas suffered non-life threatening injuries and was taken to a local hospital. He was later released from the hospital and taken to the Pinellas County Jail.

The report said the bicyclist and driver of the van were uninjured.

Authorities say that speed and impairment were not factors in the crash.