LECANTO, Fla. — A school resource officer is in critical condition after being hit by a vehicle while directing traffic Tuesday night following a high school graduation, according to the Citrus County Sheriff's Office.
At around 9 p.m., Deputy Andy Lahera, 50, was standing at the intersection of Saunders Way and South Lecanto Highway after Lecanto High School's graduation when a 2013 Nissan Altima going south on South Lecanto Highway struck him, deputies wrote in a statement.
The 19-year-old driver didn't see the deputy, who was wearing a reflective traffic vest and holding a lighted traffic ward, according to a news release from Florida Highway Patrol.
The sheriff's office said life-saving measures were performed at the scene, but Lahera had to be flown in a medevac helicopter to a nearby trauma center due to the serious nature of his injuries.
Lahera suffered several broken bones, fractures, abrasions and internal injuries, the sheriff's office said in a news release Wednesday evening. Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast said doctors have gotten X-rays and he's had a CAT scan already, with an MRI pending. He is expected to undergo surgery in the near future, he added. Although Prendergast couldn't say which hospital Lahera was taken to, he was flown by helicopter to an out-of-county trauma center. Prendergast also added Lahera is in the care of "the best in the country."
Prendergast said investigators believe the crash was likely caused by distracted driving, however, the definitive cause of the collision has not been determined.
"I saw no evidence of the operator of that vehicle braking the vehicle last night and I was out there for several hours following the accident," the sheriff said.
Citrus County superintendent released a statement following the crash that sent the deputy to the hospital.
"Last night, one of our school resource officers was involved in a traffic accident after he was struck by a vehicle after the Lecanto High School graduation," Superintendent Sandra "Sam" Himmel said.
"We send our continued prayers to the Lahera family, his law enforcement family, and our entire community. We have school counselors on campus at several of our schools today throughout the county to support our faculty and students to help them cope with this terrible accident."
There were about 4,000 people in attendance at the Lecanto High School graduation, including 370 graduates, according to Himmel.
Prendergast said Lahera has been surrounded by family and his fellow Citrus County deputies since being admitted to the hospital. He remains unconscious and is in critical but stable condition.
FHP is currently investigating this incident. No further details were provided, the sheriff's office said.
Lahera has been working with the Citrus County Sheriff's Office for 14 years and has been a school resource deputy since 2018 with his current assignment at Lecanto Middle School. FOP 164 has organized a meal train with all proceeds going toward Lahera's family. Anyone who wishes to donate can click here. More than $15,000 has already been raised with a $20,000 goal.