Deputy suspended over Clearwater crash that injured bicyclist

CLEARWATER, FL – A Pinellas County sheriff’s deputy has been suspended over a crash in Clearwater earlier this year that left a bicyclist injured, IONTB reports.

The incident happened on the night of March 22, as Deputy Jared Toro of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office was responding to help another deputy on a traffic stop.

Toro was driving a marked Chevrolet Tahoe west on Gulf to Bay Boulevard. As he approached a green light at Hampton Road, investigators say he swerved to try and avoid the bicyclist, 62-year-old Steven Greninger of Gardiner, Montana.

The right front corner of the Tahoe collided with the rear tire of the bicycle, resulting in a crash that caused Greninger to be seriously injured. Toro was not hurt.

Toro has now been suspended for 112 hours after the Vehicle Crash Review Board found that the crash was preventable. In findings released Tuesday, the board determined that the deputy’s speed and the manner in which he was driving contributed to the incident.

The board added that Toro stopped his vehicle after the crash, asked for fire rescue to respond, and evaluated the condition of the bicyclist.

In 2019, Florida had the most bicycle accident fatalities in the United States. Because they share the road, bicyclists and drivers both share responsibility to operate their vehicles safely. But when laws to keep bicycle riders aren’t followed, the results can be catastrophic. If you have been injured in a bicycle accident, the Clearwater Personal Injury Attorneys at Kemp Law Group Law Group will be with you every step of the way, fighting for answers and justice on your behalf. Get started today by calling us at 727-325-5512 or responding in our online chat box.