VALRICO, Fla. — A deputy was hospitalized overnight Friday after they were hit by a drunk driver in the Valrico-Brandon area, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said.
The crash happened just after 1 a.m. on Valrico Road and Lumsden Road.
According to the sheriff's office, a deputy was in the area to responding to another call.
While the deputy was driving their marked Chevrolet Tahoe south on Valrico Road, 34-year-old Brittany Moore reportedly ran a "steady red light" on Lumsden Road in her Nissan Murano, causing the two cars to crash.
The deputy was taken to Brandon Regional Hospital with "non-life-threatening, upper-body injuries."
Deputies said Moore showed signs of impairment and was arrested for DUI at the scene. She is facing charges of driving under the influence with personal damage and personal injury. The sheriff's office said that "three and a half hours after the crash," Moore blew a .066 and 0.68 BAC.
"Driving impaired isn't just a risk you take; it's a danger you pose to yourself, your passengers, and everyone else sharing the road. When you're behind the wheel under the influence, you're not only gambling with your life, but also with the lives of innocent people," Sheriff Chad Chronister said. "This situation could have ended so much differently and shows how driving under the influence is a reckless choice that can shatter families, cause irreparable harm, and leave a trail of devastation."
The investigation is ongoing.