FLORIDA OFFICER DIRECTING TRAFFIC IS STRUCK BY CAR

A Clearwater police officer was injured Saturday night when he was hit by a car as he directed spring break traffic on Clearwater Beach. Authorities say Emily J. Fate, 18, was driving north on Coronado Drive when her vehicle struck officer Eric Eisenhardt at Fifth Street about 9:20 p.m. She didn't stop.

An officer who witnessed the accident sent out a description of the car, and two hours later it was found parked along Hamden Drive. They traced it to Fate's home, where she was arrested on charges of driving under the influence and a leaving the scene of an accident.

Details about Fate's blood alcohol content and how officers determined she was intoxicated at the time of the crash were unavailable Sunday.

The officer was taken to Morton Plan Hospital, where he was treated and released.