Man Charged With Drunk Driving After Hitting Pinellas Patrol Car

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies have arrested a man for drunk driving following a three-car crash that landed a sheriff’s deputy in the hospital with minor injuries.

According to investigators, on Tuesday, Sept. 11, at 12:49 a.m., Pinellas County Sheriff’s Deputy Christopher Ludtke, 26, was on duty in his marked 2010 Ford Crown Victoria, traveling east on 38th Avenue North when he stopped at a red light at 34th Street North.

Investigators say that’s when 32-year-old Zachariah Johnson, driving a 2016 Hyundai Elantra east on 38th Avenue North, crashed into the rear of patrol car.

The impact pushed the sheriff’s car into the rear of a 2005 Dodge Neon driven by Shannon Clark, 38.

Ludtke was transported to the hospital with minor injuries. Clark and her passenger were uninjured.

Investigators say Johnson showed signs of impairment at the scene of the crash and gave him a breathalyzer, which indicated he had a blood-alcohol level of .159 to .171, over Florida's legal limit of .08.

Johnson was arrested and charged with DUI with property damage and driving without a valid driver’s license.

Image via Pinellas Sheriff

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