Hillsborough deputy airlifted to hospital after drunken driver slams into patrol car

RUSKIN, Fla. (WFLA) — A Hillsborough County deputy was airlifted to a hospital with serious injuries after officials said a drunk driver slammed into his patrol car Saturday night.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers responded to a crash on SR-674 and 15th Street in Ruskin around 10:30 p.m. involving an unmarked Hillsborough Sheriff’s Office Chevy Tahoe.

Officials said 25-year-old Uriel Garcia Nestor, of Ruskin, was driving his Ford pickup southbound on 15th street when he ran a stop sign and collided with the deputy, identified as Ivan Clark, who had been traveling westbound on SR-674.

The crash caused the deputy’s vehicle to flip several times into the median, ejecting Deputy Clark from the vehicle, according to officials.

The 47-year-old deputy was airlifted to a nearby hospital with serious injuries.

FHP suspected Nestor had been under the influence, and later discovered his blood alcohol level was 0.121.

“Regardless of what it is, citizen or law enforcement officers, it’s 100% preventable and it just makes me shake my head. I can’t figure out why people just can’t figure it out,” Sharon Hall, the Program Manager for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said.

Hall said Hillsborough County is in the top five counties in the state for DUI fatalities and crashes.

“Just in August this year, 390 DUI arrests were made, which are up 33% from last year,” Hall said.

Nestor was arrested and taken to the Hillsborough County Jail for DUI injury, DUI property damage, and driving with a suspended license.

“Our thoughts are with Deputy Clark, his family and friends during this difficult time,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “This incident is a stark reminder of the dangers impaired drivers pose to our community. It is deeply disappointing that someone would make the reckless decision to drive impaired, not only endangering their own life but putting everyone else on the road at risk.”

Hall said it’s everyone’s responsibility to make sure people don’t drive impaired.

“It’s not just shrugging our shoulders and saying not my problem. This can happen to any one of us at any time,” Hall said. “People that drink and drive or do drugs and drive made a conscious decision to do that before they got in the car.”

Nestor’s first appearance in court is set for Monday afternoon.

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