WATCH: Body Cam Video Shows Deputies Wounded In Domino Effect Car Crash
Bodycam footage released by Pasco County Sheriff’s Office in Florida captured a deputy being hit by a vehicle while he was assisting victims at the site of another crash that had happened earlier.
According to reports, the incident happened when two deputies from the sheriff's office were responding to a minor traffic crash involving three cars at State Road 52 and Hays Road on Tuesday afternoon. The crash was a result of an eastbound sedan turning into the path of a westbound sedan. Both the vehicles collided and hit a third sedan stopped at a red traffic light.
While the two were providing aid to the occupants in the three sedans, a pickup truck turned into the path of another truck, causing them to collide and pushing them into the scene of the first crash, according to Fox 13 News.
One of the deputies was struck by the vehicles and was left injured in his hand; the other continued to make sure the persons involved in the first crash received proper care.
Deputy Peter Knorr, was later treated at a nearby hospital, was expected to be fine.
The roads where the crashes took place were reopened about two hours after the incident. The sheriff’s office warned drivers and urged them to slow down their vehicles, especially while driving on wet roads and near other traffic crashes.
Pasco County Sheriff officials released the body camera footage Wednesday morning.
“This is an example of the dangers that our men and women face every day they put on the uniform,” the office said in a statement. “One of our injured members continued to serve, making sure that another person involved in this crash received care. We also see our citizens working to help fellow accident victims. We urge you to slow down, especially on wet roads and near traffic crashes.”
"The video doesn’t do it justice. The car hit me so hard it took my breath away,” said Amanda Helmick, who stopped with her children to help those involved in the first crash.
“When I looked up the truck ran through the light. The other truck hit it. And we had no time to go any where.”
Helmick was also hit in the second crash but was only bruised.
Deputy Andrey Damian, who was the other officer present at the scene and somehow missed getting hit by any of the vehicles, said: "It happened so fast. There was no way to avoid it." It was his second day on the job, according to ABC Action News.
Helmick said when she was hit, all she thought about was her children, who were waiting in their van. They saw the entire incident of what happened to the deputy and their mother. In the video, Helmick's daughter is heard screaming "mom!" But Helmlik said she had no regrets about the decision of helping the first car crash victims.
“I would do it all over again. No matter what,” she said.
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