19-104 Major Accident Investigation Team Investigates Crash Involving Three Vehicles And An Unmarked Sheriff’s Vehicle In Clearwater

Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
- Major Accident Investigation Team (M.A.I.T)

Darcey Phillips (Driver- arrested)

DOB: 10/22/1952

Address: 1736 Bellemeade Drive Clearwater, Fl.

Vehicle: 2003 Chevrolet Van

Wesley Sanders (Driver- injured)

DOB: 1/26/1947

Address: 2346 Druid Road East #1403 Clearwater, Fl.

Vehicle: 1999 Mercedes 4-door

Jzon Livingston Sr. (Driver- uninjured)

DOB: 1/7/1979

Address: 626 Fairmont Street Clearwater, Fl.

Vehicle: 2000 Chevrolet Pick-up

 
PCSO Detective Anthony Orlowski (Driver- injured)

Age: 33

PCSO Detective Michael Szeliga (Passenger- injured)

Age: 33
Vehicle: Unmarked PCSO 2013 Dodge 4-door

What:
Deputies assigned to the Major Accident Investigation Team are investigating a four vehicle crash involving deputies.

When:
The crash occurred at about 2:52 p.m. on July 2, 2019.

Where:
The crash occurred on South Keene Road, south of Gulf to Bay Boulevard in the City of Clearwater.

Why/How:
Deputies assigned to the Major Accident Investigation Team are investigating a four vehicle crash involving deputies.

According to investigators, 66 year-old Darcey Phillips was driving her 2003 Chevrolet van south on South Keene Road in the left lane, when she crashed into the rear of a 1999 Mercedes 4-door, driven by 72 year-old Wesley Sanders, who had reduced his speed for heavy traffic.

The impact pushed Sanders’ Mercedes into the rear of a 2000 Chevrolet pick-up, driven by 40 year-old Jzon Livingston Sr., who was also driving at a low speed. The crash resulted in Sanders’ Mercedes turning sideways and it was struck again by Phillips’ van on the passenger side.

Next, Phillip’s van struck a PCSO unmarked 2013 Dodge 4-door, driven by Detective Orlowski and occupied by Detective Szeliga, while it too was traveling at a low speed in traffic.

Phillips van swerved back into the left lane, where she struck Livington’s Chevrolet pick-up that Sanders’ Mercedes had crashed with earlier. Phillip’s van came to a stop against Livingston’s pick-up.

Sanders, Detective Orlowski and Detective Szeliga were transported by ambulance to a local hospital with minor injuries and were released shortly afterward.

Phillips showed signs of impairment at the scene and performed poorly during field sobriety tests. Phillips was subsequently arrested for two counts of DUI with Injury and two counts of DUI with Property Damage. Phillips was transported to the Pinellas County Jail without incident.

The investigation continues.