Two people were killed Saturday evening in a crash on Clay County Road 209 near Pine Hollow Road in Green Cove Springs. A sheriff's deputy was also injured when he drove into one of the wrecked vehicles after the initial crash.
Deputy Bryant Wiggins was taken to a hospital as a precaution but "sustained only minor injuries and is OK," Clay County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Mary Justino said.
A Florida Highway Patrol accident report said a Dodge Neon and a Hyundai Elantra were traveling opposite directions on 209 when one of the cars crossed the center line about 8:45 p.m. and they collided head-on. The reason for the collision was still being investigated, the Highway Patrol said.
Both drivers -- Stacey Renee Peternel, 37, of Green Cove Springs and Shanice Sadi Johnson, 23, of Middleburg -- died at the scene, the Highway Patrol said. Passengers from both cars, identified as Rudolph Arredondo, 32, of Green Cove Springs and 2-year-old Samiyah Brown of Middleburg, were taken to Baptist Medical Center's Clay County campus with what the Highway Patrol described as minor injuries.
All except Johnson had been restrained by a seatbelt or child restraint, the report said.
The Highway Patrol said Wiggins' patrol car hit the Hyundai, which had been driven by Johnson, and that all the vehicles ended up on the grass shoulder of 209, also called Russell Road. The road was unlit and Wiggins was slowing down to assist when he ran into a car in the street, Justino reported Saturday night.
Wiggins was transporting one person to the Clay County jail when the wreck happened. That person and a civilian observer were not injured, the Highway Patrol said, although the inmate was taken to a hospital for examination as a precaution.
The Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate.
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