TAMPA - A patrol deputy for the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office was seriously injured in a hit-and-run crash Tuesday morning as he left an off-duty job helping with traffic on Interstate 275.
Deputy Brian McPike, 33, was driving his patrol car north on Himes Avenue toward Columbus Avenue. When McPike got to the intersection, said sheriff's spokesman Lt. Rod Reder, he saw a fast-moving eastbound Toyota running a red light. McPike turned his vehicle to the right to avoid the Toyota, but was hit on the front driver's side.
The driver of the Toyota, 17-year-old Corey Hines of 6424 Sawyer Road, Tampa, fled on foot. Tampa police found him six blocks away 20 minutes later.
The deputy suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries; Hines was cut on his face. Both were taken to St. Joseph's Hospital.
Hines is charged with running a red light and leaving the scene of a crash involving injury.
