St Johns deputy hospitalized in out-of-county crash

Around 7:40 a.m. this morning, Historic City News was notified that a St Johns County deputy who was reporting to work and driving a marked patrol car, crashed into a Mazda passenger vehicle on San Jose Boulevard in Mandarin. Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is investigating the two-car crash.

The crash occurred at the Loretto Road intersection; knocked out a power pole, and caused the traffic lights to go out. There were delays reported in the area through much of the morning rush hour.

By 8:45 a.m., all lanes were reported opened and the traffic lights were restored around 9:00 a.m., according to reports from the scene. Details of the crash were not yet released as of 11:00 a.m., but there was “significant damage” to each vehicle.

Both drivers are receiving treatment for “non-life-threatening injuries” sustained in the collision. The driver of the patrol car was Youth Resource Deputy, Scott R. Wright. The identity of the other driver has not been officially released. Wright is at UF Health Jacksonville and the driver of a Mazda is at Baptist Health, according to the public information officer.

Deputy Wright has been employed by the St Johns County Sheriff’s Office for the last nine-years. Like most of the law enforcement employees, Wright is assigned a vehicle and a gasoline credit card. According to department policy, he is allowed to take his vehicle home after his shift — even though “home” for Deputy Wright is in a Mandarin subdivision in Duval County.