A Flagler County motorcycle deputy was hospitalized Wednesday after crashing during a traffic stop on an Interstate 95 on-ramp on a driver involved in a previous crash.

  • Flagler deputy injured in crash while pursuing vehicle
  • Vehicle drove away from scene of previous crash, deputies say
  • Deputy Bret Wood hospitalized but expected to be OK
  • Vehicle that Wood was pursuing is still being sought

At about 1 p.m., Deputy Bret Wood was responding to a vehicle crash at State Road 100 and Interstate 95 when one of the vehicles involved in the crash started to drive off, the Sheriff's Office said.

Wood chased the white Buick Rendezvous as it entered the I-95 south on-ramp. That's when it suddenly hit the brakes, causing Wood to lose control of his motorcycle and fall, a news release said.

The Buick then drove off.

Wood was hospitalized with injuries to his chin, chest and arms but is expected to be OK.

Authorities are now looking for the Buick, which had a South Carolina license plate.

“Thank God Deputy Wood was wearing his helmet, because he took a hard hit to the head,” Sheriff Rick Staly said in the release. “I’m glad that he’s going to be OK. Now we need to track down the driver.”