BLINDED DRIVER HITS FLORIDA DEPUTY

One driver says while he was leaving Sanibel Island, he saw an officer directing traffic and slowed down. But he says he was blinded by a massive construction light and subsequently struck the officer. Some drivers are now wondering whether their construction lights and really doing their job.

On nights when construction crews put in overtime on the Sanibel Causeway, deputies also go on double duty to keep an eye on overnight traffic.

"As far as lighting is concerned, that’s there for the safety of construction workers so they can perform their duties safely," said Larry King with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

The lights are there for safety purposes, but one driver says he accidentally struck a deputy because the construction lights were in his eyes.

The deputy was hit in the leg and is currently on lighter duty, but he's doing well.

Meanwhile, Sanibel travelers say the Causeway is tough enough to navigate at night without the heavy spotlights. "We went over it this morning and we were blinded," said Sanibel resident Dan Gallagher. DOT officials say this responsibility falls on the project contractor and those spotlights must keep shining.

The contractor said the lighting is up to specification and that from time to time, work has to happen at night. Again, the deputy is OK and the driver has not been charged.