TWO FLORIDA POLICE CRUISERS HIT BY D.U.I. SUSPECTS
Two police vehicles were hit by DUI suspects within minutes of each other over the weekend on US 19 in Largo. It began after a Largo Police officer responded to a crash at the 14400 block of US 19. Reports say a driver lost control of his vehicle, drove up the side of the concrete safety barrier separating northbound traffic from southbound traffic, and sliced a power pole that fell across all lanes of US 19.
As FHP responded to do the DUI crash investigation, the Largo officer stayed on scene to help with traffic control. He had just gotten back into his police cruiser when Nicole Chappel -- who was headed north on US 19 -- struck his cruiser in the passenger side, sending the cruiser spinning around. He was taken to Largo Medical Center, where he was treated for minor injuries and released.
Another Largo Police officer arrived to help direct traffic around the two crash scenes. This officer tried to get the attention of a third driver, Lowell Nottage, who barely missed him, but rear-ended his K-9 cruiser. K-9 Officer Draco was inside. Draco was transported to the Belcher emergency vet clinic, where he was treated for abrasions to his face.
Nicole Chappel was taken into custody for DUI. Lowell Nottage was transported to Bayfront Hospital, and admitted with non life threatening injuries.
When Nottage is released, police say he will be cited with failure to yield to emergency vehicles and DUI.
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