Jupiter police released video footage of a crash Sunday on Interstate 95 that injured an officer.
Officer Jason C. Starks was in his police cruiser in Palm Beach Gardens when a car driven by a Stuart man crashed into him. Authorities say that driver fell asleep at the wheel.
The video, taken from Starks' dashboard camera, shows him driving north on I-95 at about 4:30 a.m. Sunday.
Starks, 34, had dropped off someoneat the Palm Beach County Jail and was in the center lane headed to Jupiter. Meanwhile, Steven Carl Klix, 30, of Stuart, was driving in the same direction in the inside lane, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
Klix fell asleep, and his 1999 Mercury Marquis drifted into the left shoulder, hitting the concrete barrier wall and then veering into Starks' lane. The Mercury then slammed into the front of Stark's 2012 Chevrolet Impala, sending both cars onto the grass shoulder.
Klix's car came to a rest, but Starks' car overturned and collided with a tree north of the Military Trail entrance ramp.
Both drivers were wearing seat belts at the time of the wreck, and neither was under the influence of alcohol, FHP said.
After the wreck, Starks was rushed to St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach. He was released Sunday afternoon.
Klix was charged with failure to maintain a single lane, FHP said. He was not injured.
On Tuesday, Jupiter police spokesman Sgt. Scott Pascarella said Starks is recovering at home.
He added Starks didn't suffer any broken bones but couldn't provide additional details on the injuries.
Starks, who has been with Jupiter police for about five years, is a road patrol officer and lives in Jupiter.
In 2011, Starks received a distinguished service award from the Safety Council of Palm Beach County, along with about a two dozen other law enforcement officers and civilians from Palm Beach County.
The Impala sustained an estimated $10,000 of damage and the Marquis $5,000, FHP said.
Copyright 2013 - The Palm Beach Post, Fla.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
