Cop Car Crashes: Repair Bills Piling Up

ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is racking up a major vehicle repair bill with its eighth deputy-involved crash this year.

The latest crash occurred at 9:23 p.m. Thursday when Deputy Shawn Livernois, 31, was driving his 2011 Ford Crown Victoria marked cruiser west in the left turn lane of Tyrone Boulevard North at the intersection of Park Street North in St. Petersburg.

Investigators say Livernois tried to turn around to assist another deputy with a traffic stop on Tyrone Boulevard North. He made a U-turn at Park Street North on a red light to head back east. In the process, he drove into the path of a Toyota Sienna driven by David Lawhead, 59, of St. Petersburg, who was heading east on Tyrone Boulevard on a green light.

Livernoise did not have his emergency lights or sirens on and Lawhead was unable to stop before crashing into the passenger side of the cruiser.

Livernois was transported to the hospital by another deputy to be treated for minor injuries. Lawhead declined medical treatment.

Image via Pinellas Sheriff

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