The driver who struck a Miami-Dade Sheriff’s deputy who had responded to a crash on the Florida’s Turnpike on Saturday morning has been arrested as the deputy continues to recover, officials said.
Lonnel Duwayne Brinson Jr., 28, of Miramar, is facing charges of reckless driving causing serious bodily injury and knowingly driving with a suspended license, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office officials said Sunday.
The sheriff’s office said Deputy Leonard Cantave, who had been critically injured in the incident, was now in stable condition.
According to an arrest report, Cantave was assisting the Florida Highway Patrol with a crash that had happened on the Florida’s Turnpike near Northwest 74th Street around 7 a.m. Saturday.
Cantave had exited his marked patrol vehicle to check on a driver who was involved in the earlier crash and to speak with other authorities at the scene, including Doral Police and a Road Ranger.
Brinson, who was driving a 2019 Mazda CX5 in a northbound express lane, didn’t slow down and suddenly swerved to avoid hitting Cantave’s vehicle but struck Cantave, the report said.
Cantave was vaulted in the air and slid across all northbound lanes of the Turnpike before coming to rest on the shoulder, the report said.
He was airlifted to the hospital in extreme critical condition. Officials said he has been with Miami law enforcement for 20 years, and started with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue before joining the sheriff’s office.
Brinson stayed at the scene and admitted to consuming marijuana and alcohol before the crash, and told authorities he had marijuana and a firearm in his car, the report said.
Two blood samples were taken from Brinson with the results pending, the report said.
According to the report, Brinson’s license was suspended five times for failure to pay traffic fines, with the latest suspension issued on Dec. 8.
Brinson was booked into jail.