19-053 Major Accident Investigation Team Investigates Two Vehicle Deputy Involved Rollover Crash In Tierra Verde
M.A.I.T. Investigation
Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
- Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT)
Deputy Luis Guiral (Driver- Injured)
Age: 23
Date of Hire: 11/13/2017
Vehicle: Fully marked 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe cruiser
Mariela Martin (Driver- Uninjured)
Age: 26
Address: Tampa
Vehicle: 2015 Lexus RX350
What:
Deputies assigned to the Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) are investigation a deputy involved rollover crash that injured a deputy in Tierra Verde.
When:
The crash occurred at about 6:48 p.m. on Saturday, March 30, 2019.
Where:
The crash occurred on the Pinellas Bayway South in front of the Fort De Soto Park boat ramp entrance in Tierra Verde.
Why/How:
According to investigators, Deputy Luis Guiral was on duty driving his fully marked 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe cruiser northbound on Pinellas Bayway South with his emergency lights on responding to a stolen vehicle in-progress call for service.
As Deputy Guiral approached the entrance to the Fort De Soto Park boat ramp entrance, traffic stopped in front of him in the northbound lanes. Deputy Guiral proceeded northbound in southbound lane of Pinellas Bayway South in order to pass the traffic stopped in front of him.
Investigators say 26-year-old Mariela Martin was driving a 2015 Lexus RX350 northbound on Pinellas Bayway South when she began making a left turn into the boat ramp parking lot. Martin’s Lexus struck the passenger side of Deputy Guiral’s Tahoe as he was attempting to overtake her vehicle.
The impact caused Deputy Guiral to lose control of the Tahoe and his cruiser overturned. Deputy Guiral’s Tahoe came to final rest on its passenger side in the southbound lane of Pinellas Bayway South.
Citizens helped to extricate Deputy Guiral from his cruiser.
Paramedics transported Deputy Guiral to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg Hospital for non-life threatening injuries. Martin and her passengers were uninjured.
Investigators say Deputy Guiral did not have his emergency siren on at the time of the crash.
Neither speed nor impairment appear to be factors in the crash.
The investigation continues.
