Deputy sent to hospital following hit-and-run crash

A St. Johns County deputy is expected to return to full duty tomorrow, according to Sheriff’s spokesperson Catherine Payne; after a late night crash interrupted his shift and sent him to Flagler Hospital with minor injuries.

Historic City News was informed that, at about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday night, Deputy David S. Ong was on patrol when a silver Mitsubishi Galant, traveling at a high rate of speed, ran a stop sign, westbound on Bruen Street in St Augustine, striking the driver’s side front quarter-panel of his patrol car.

“The driver of the Mitsubishi, whose identity is not known, fled the scene of the crash; leaving the damaged patrol vehicle and injured deputy alone at the location,” Payne told local reporters. “We are investigating the factors that caused the crash, not the Florida Highway Patrol.”

The deputy was transported to the hospital for evaluation, but is expected to be okay.

If you have any information that might lead to the identification of the hit-and-run driver involved in this collision, or their location, you can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward by calling CRIME STOPPERS of NORTHEAST FLORIDA at (888) 277-TIPS (8477) or the St Johns County Sheriff’s Office at (904) 824-8304 or toll free at (800) 346-7596.