THREE FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL TROOPERS HIT BY DRUNK DRIVER

Three Florida Highway Patrol troopers were seriously injured on Saturday night when they were hit along a Pinellas County roadway. Investigators say Troopers Rhonda Hendee, Gregory Taylor, and Auxillary Trooper Eugune R. Lebrenz were working at the scene of a deadly accident on Interstate 275 in St. Petersburg when they were hit by a drunk driver.

The accident happened around 8:00 p.m. According to authorities, the 24-year-old driver of a motorcycle lost control and hit the guard rail of the roadway near the 38th Avenue North exit. The troopers were investigating the crash, and detectives say there were flares and sirens along the road so drivers would see officers as the worked.

However, a man in a Honda Civic swerved and lost control of his car, slamming into a police cruiser and hitting the troopers. All three of the troopers who were hit were taken to the hospital, and they had surgery on Sunday morning. Authorities say they sustained broken bones and bruises.

The driver of the Civic, Robert Taylor, sustained minor injuries. Officers arrested him on both felony and misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence. Troopers say the accident stresses the importance of using caution around an accident. "The emphasis here is to pay attention to your driving habits, observe these emergency vehicles, and obey the move over law," said Sgt. Paul Freik.

Florida's move over law states that if you see officers working, you must move over into the next lane, or slow down to at least 20 miles below the posted speed limit if you can't move over.