A motorcyclist was seriously injured Friday when a St. Petersburg police officer turned his department SUV into his path, police said.
The crash happened about 8:30 p.m. when Officer Richard Thomas, who was driving a Ford Explorer, tried to turn left from the westbound lanes of 54th Avenue North to head south on 16th Street North, according to the St. Petersburg Police Department. Thomas failed to yield to 29-year-old Parker Lehman of St. Petersburg, who was riding a Yamaha motorcycle east on 54th Avenue, and turned into Lehman’s path, police said.
Lehman crashed into the front passenger side fender of the SUV. He was taken to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital to be treated for serious injuries.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Thomas was taken to the same hospital with minor injuries.
A police spokesperson said Monday the crash remained under investigation and a determination about whether Thomas will be cited had yet to be made. The investigation will also be reviewed by supervisors to determine if he will face disciplinary action, the spokesperson said.