KISSIMMEE, Fla. — A driver is dead after a deputy did not stop at an intersection, causing a four-car crash in Kissimmee Friday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
- Robert Johnson died from his injuries
- Deputy suffered minor injuries
- Investigation is ongoing
Traffic was backed up for hours at the intersection of Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway and Lindfields Boulevard after officials say Osceola Sheriff's Office Deputy Gloria Boccio's cruiser did not stop at the intersection and crashed into a pickup truck sitting at the red light.
It is not known why but the deputy did not stop as she approached the intersection. She allegedly hit the Ford pickup, pushing it into a Dodge van and a Ford Focus.
That pickup driver, 34-year-old Robert Johnson from Clermont, died at Florida Hospital Celebration Health. Deputy Gloria Boccio suffered minor injuries.
Osceola County Sheriff Russ Gibson talked about an unrelated incident in which deputy Boccio was in close proximity to another fatal accident.
"She was behind a vehicle that started to speed away from her, and as policy directed she disengaged completely; she turned and went the other way,” Sheriff Gibson said, “And it was later on that the subject driving that vehicle was involved in an accident that cost him his life. But she had no part in that whatsoever.”
The drivers and passengers in the other cars, including Tracy Wilson and Euan Hart from Scotland were untouched.
They say they are pretty shaken up after being a part of the four-car accident.
“(We) didn’t feel it too badly, but it moved us forward,” Hart said.
All the drivers wore their seatbelts, stated the FHP.
Deputy Boccio will be on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation by the FHP and the internal investigation conducted by the Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation is ongoing.
Reporter Stephanie Bechara contributed to this story.