Apparent car crash victim's injuries not consistent with crash, SLC sheriff said

ST. LUCIE COUNTY — Officials are investigating a possible crash in which a driver sustained injuries that didn’t appear consistent with a traffic crash, Sheriff Keith Pearson said Tuesday.

Investigators went to the incident on U.S. 1 at St. Lucie Boulevard around 5:09 a.m. Tuesday. The location is north of downtown Fort Pierce. The Sheriff’s Office in a 7:52 a.m. social media post suggested people seek alternate routes.

“The individual that was involved in this traffic crash when deputies got there had some injuries that weren't consistent with the traffic crash,” Pearson said. “So they hadn't had a chance to talk to him. But until they talked to him, they're going to treat it as if there was ... potentially another crime.”

Pearson did not have further information on the injuries.

About 10:25 a.m. Tuesday, a four-door Ford Fusion with a smashed front end was on a flatbed wrecker in the parking lot of a business at the northeast corner of the intersection, Guy’s Quality Meats.

Mike Gazzara, owner of Guy’s Quality Meats, said one of his employees arrived around 5 a.m. and noticed the crashed vehicle. He said it had crashed into a large billboard post.

“Only thing I know is that we walked in and everything was blocked off due to the accident and everything else,” he said.

A sheriff’s deputy at the scene declined comment, referring questions to an agency spokesperson.

Brenda Smith, St. Lucie County Fire District spokesperson, said one person was hospitalized. Her agency was called at 5:08 a.m., she said.

Pearson said the driver was being treated at HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce.

The vehicle, he said, was being handled as a crime scene “until they determine otherwise,” Pearson said.

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Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com .

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Apparent car crash victim's injuries not consistent with crash, SLC sheriff said