[5-5-22] Pinellas Deputy Drives Over Woman on St. Pete Beach, Sheriff’s Office Says

May 5, 2022
10:35 am

An on-duty Pinellas deputy drove his patrol vehicle over a 23-year-old woman lying on the sand at St. Pete Beach on Wednesday afternoon, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputy Todd Brien, 58, was on beach patrol Wednesday. He had parked his fully marked 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe behind The Lido, located at 4450 Gulf Boulevard, and was speaking to several people on the beach when dispatch asked him to check on a 911 hangup call around 1:08 p.m., the agency said in a news release Wednesday night.

Brien turned right and ran over Robin Diffenderfer, who was lying in the sand, the Sheriff’s Office said. Diffenderfer was on her back, and the front driver-side tire drove over her “right side and mid to upper back area.”

She was taken to an area hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening, according to the release.

Brien was hired by the Sheriff’s Office on Nov. 12, 2013, the release said. He was not injured.

The crash is being investigated by the agency’s Major Accident Investigation Team.

Source: https://www.tampabay.com/news/pinellas/2022/05/04/pinellas-deputy-drives-over-woman-on-st-pete-beach-sheriffs-office-says/

(Credit: Tampa Bay Times)

Meet Our Team

Sean K. McQuaid

Read Sean's Profile

Jonathon W. Douglas

Read Jonathon's Profile

Taylor Shallenburg

Read Taylor's Profile

Free Police Report

If you or a loved one were involved in or affected by this accident and would like the incident’s official Police Report, Personal Injury Attorneys McQuaid & Douglas might be able to help.

PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT STATISTICS

Florida continues to be one of the most dangerous states for pedestrian/motor vehicle accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, pedestrian deaths from traffic crashes in the United States are at a 30-year high. Between January 1 and March 3, 2022, Florida has seen ninety-nine pedestrian fatalities as a result of a motor vehicle collision. And while this is an alarming number, the data released by Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle shows that the number of deaths in 2022 is actually lower than the same time period in 2021. In 2020, motor-vehicle crashes with pedestrian fatalities were the second leading cause of preventable deaths. Sadly, Florida has more metropolitan areas with the highest number of fatalities. 7 of the top 10 metropolitan areas are located in Florida, and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater ranked #8 nationwide. With numbers like these, the chances of you or a loved one being a victim of a pedestrian/vehicle collision are high. All car accidents have the potential to result in serious injuries, but none more so than an accident involving a pedestrian. Without any protection to the body, even the smallest impact from a vehicle can cause significant, even life-changing injuries.

FLORIDA PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT LAWYERS FOR VICTIMS OF MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISIONS

If you or a loved one has been a victim of a pedestrian/vehicle collision and suffered injuries, personal injury attorneys Sean McQuaid and Jonathon Douglas can help you recover the compensation you deserve. McQuaid and Douglas specialize in vehicular accidents involving pedestrians and understand the intricacies of these cases. They will protect your rights, and ensure you receive a fair settlement to cover your financial and emotional losses. For over 60 years McQuaid and Douglas has been successfully helping people who have been injured due to someone else’s carelessness. The firm has been nationally ranked for decades by US News and World Reports as a Tier 1 law firm, which is the highest ranking that can be received. This year alone, Sean McQuaid was named Top 3 Best Personal Injury Lawyers in St. Petersburg, FL by Three Best Rated® and also won the 2022 Expertise Award for Best Personal Injury Lawyers in St. Petersburg. He and Jonathon have dedicated their careers to continuing the firm’s legacy of superior legal representation. Remember you are never charged a fee unless we win. Call us today so that we may answer your questions, and help you navigate the complexities of your claim for injuries, medical expenses, loss of wages, pain and suffering, and any other accident-related expenses. Do not wait to schedule your free consultation. We will review your case and provide you with the best legal advice for your situation.