Driver charged in collision with motorcycle deputy

The State of Florida filed charges last week against 61 year-old Joan M Wilkie, after concluding their investigation into her collision with a St Johns County traffic deputy who was escorting a motorcycle run to benefit a charitable organization that provides medical treatment for children.

The 39 year-old St Johns County Sheriff’s Deputy, Gregory A Dubowsky, remains in stable condition and continues his recovery at a Jacksonville hospital after suffering critical injuries in the crash that occurred just after noon, April 14th.

Dubowsky was accompanying motorcycle traffic units from both St Johns and Jacksonville Sheriff’s Offices.

According to available information, after stopping another driver along the route, as Dubowsky returned to the “Rides for Smiles” entourage on SR-A1A near the Guana River State Park in South Ponte Vedra Beach, lights and siren activated, a Fiat driven by Wilkie turned left into Dubowsky’s traffic lane; colliding with the police motorcycle.

“It is projected that Deputy Dubowsky will not be able to return to work for several months,” said SJSO Corporal Catherine Payne. “Deputy Dubowsky has been with St Johns County Sheriff’s Office since 1996.”

The violation alleged, failure to yield when making a left turn, is a civil traffic infraction; however, Wilkie is required to appear before Judge Alexander R Christine Jr in this case because of the resulting collision with serious bodily injury. Wilkie’s residence address is listed in Westchester, Illinois; a west Cook County suburb of Chicago. The case will be heard in June.