WESLEY CHAPEL, FL – Working as a ranger for the Florida Department of Transportation has become an increasingly dangerous job over the past two decades.
The Florida Highway Patrol regularly reports that rangers are struck by passing vehicles, resulting in serious injury and sometimes death.
The latest victim is a 38-year-old parking attendant who was hit and seriously injured by a fleeing driver on Wednesday. Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the driver's identification and arrest.
At 12:02 a.m., police officers were investigating an accident on southbound State Highway 93 just north of Overpass Road in Wesley Chapel.
A ranger went into the closed portions of the freeway, which were marked with traffic cones and flares to indicate the center and outer lanes were closed.
A car traveling south on the inside lane partially got into the center lane and hit the ranger, who sped away.
The car was a silver or light gray Toyota Camry or Corolla with a partial license plate of "F90".
Established in 2000 by FDOT and sponsored by State Farm, Road Ranger Service Patrol provides drivers with traffic accident management and roadside assistance to improve road safety for first responders and drivers.
Since the program began, Rangers, who receive approximately $25,000 annually, have completed more than 6.1 million service calls and assisted more than 4,000 drivers monthly.
Easily identifiable by their white uniforms and vehicles with Ranger logos on the rear and sides of vehicles, Rangers patrol from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Drivers requiring assistance can simply call *347 from their cell phone to request a ranger's assistance.
- Rangers also stop to assist drivers who are stopped and need assistance, including:
- Change flat tire
- Start vehicles and carry out minor repairs.
- Offer stranded motorists two free local calls
- Clear lanes of disabled vehicles
- Clear dirt from lanes
- Emergency supply of petrol, diesel, water
- Monitor abandoned vehicles and notify FHP
Rangers are included in Florida's "Move Over" law, which requires drivers to move to a lane when they see police vehicles, ambulances, fire engines and utility workers who have been arrested at the side of the road. If they are unable to move safely, they must slow to 20mph below the posted speed limit.
The Florida Highway Patrol, increasing numbers of rangers, are being attacked by drivers who don't obey the move over law.
- On February 27, a pickup truck driver violating Florida's move-out law crashed into the rear of a stopped Ranger vehicle on Interstate 4. The 38-year-old ranger was clearing debris from the road, soldiers said. .
- On April 14, a 27-year-old parking lot attendant was hit by a car while collecting traffic cones in an emergency lane along Interstate 95 in Jacksonville. The ranger sustained a head laceration and numerous lacerations.
- On May 19, a Tesla driver crashed into a ranger's truck on I-95 in Miami. Two rangers who set up traffic cones, emergency lights and an arrow sign to help clean up after a previous accident were injured.
- On June 28, the Florida Highway Patrol said a parking lot attendant was struck and seriously injured while responding to an accident on Interstate 95 in Palm City. State police said the ranger was helping to close lanes in the area about a semi-trailer truck when his vehicle was hit by a car.
- On July 23, a fleeing driver met a ranger on the Howard Frankland Bridge. The 28-year-old parking attendant stopped to assist a disabled vehicle.
- On October 7, on I-75 in Brooksville, a parking attendant preparing to detour after an early accident on I-75 was struck by a distracted driver who was dodging traffic cones. The ranger was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
Mike Rodriguez was the ranger involved in the July 23 accident on the Howard Frankland Bridge.
"I should start by saying that I'm beyond grateful to be alive because it could have ended a lot worse than it did," he told TowForce , a website that promotes the ranger and trailer industry.
"It was definitely one of the scariest experiences of my life," he said. "Shortly after I pulled over to help a vehicle that was stuck on the right shoulder of the Howard Frankland Bridge before I could get out, my squad car was hit by a careless driver who was driving about 70 miles per hour.
Instead of slowing down or moving, it came off the pavement and hit my truck, crushing the side of the truck and ripping off the front wheel and bumper.
"Obviously they didn't hold me because I was about to get out of the vehicle. I was thrown against the door, steering wheel and roof of my truck as it was pushed about 5 to 10 feet off my shoulder. His vehicle spun and I hit the wall of the concrete barrier I tried to get out of my truck to go to the driver of the other vehicle and after about two steps I collapsed with excruciating pain in my shoulder.
Rodriguez said a passer-by stopped to help her while a man driving another car, who appeared to know the driver who caused the accident, drove away with her and crashed his car into the concrete barrier.
You can learn more about the program and share your story at www.AssistPatrol.com .
Anyone with information about Wednesday's hit-and-run accident and would like to be eligible for the cash award should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477), report anonymously online at www.crimestopperstb.com , or submit a mobile tip with the P3 Tips Mobile app.
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