HCSO: Central Tampa Allegedly Drunk Driver Hits Deputy Patrol Car

A Central Tampa resident, driving apparently drunk, struck a Hillsborough deputy’s patrol vehicle early Sunday morning, April 15, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

Around 1 a.m., Angel R. Pena, 42, was driving his 2001 Ford Excursion eastbound on Bearss Avenue in the westbound lanes, just west of the Jimmy B. Keel Library.

The SUV did not have its headlights on, the sheriff’s office said.

Pena drove his SUV onto the grass meridian and struck a small tree with the right front of the vehicle. Pena continued driving until the end of the meridian and went back onto Bearss Avenue still traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes, according to sheriff's office spokesman Larry McKinnon.

Then, Pena collided nearly head on with a marked HCSO patrol vehicle, McKinnon said.

Deputy Juan Lazu, 47, was on routine patrol in a 2011 Crown Victoria traveling westbound on Bearss Avenue and “did not see the Ford Excursion approaching until just prior to impact,” McKinnon said.

“After the impact, the patrol vehicle rotated in a counter clockwise direction coming to rest approximately 45 feet from the area of impact, partially in the median. Deputy Lazu was trapped in the vehicle but was able to call for help on his radio. Additional deputies quickly responded to the scene and were able to pull Deputy Lazu from his vehicle moments before both vehicles exploded and consumed by fire,” McKinnon said in a press release.

Lazu suffered minor injuries from the crash and was transported to Florida Hospital. The deputy, who is assigned to Uniform Patrol District 1, Street Crimes Unit and who has been employed since 2002, is expected to fully recover and return to duty.

McKinnin said that Pena had a very strong odor of alcohol at the time of the crash. Pena was transported to St. Joseph's Hospital, and was arrested upon release from the hospital.

Pena was booked into Hillsborough County Jail and was charged with DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to breath and blood testing.