LARGO, Fla. – Pinellas County Sheriff Deputies assigned to the Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) are investigating a deputy versus bicycle crash in Largo. According to investigators, on Friday night, at approximately 11:22 p.m., Deputy Lewis was on-duty in his fully marked 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe traveling southbound on Belcher Road. Deputy Lewis was on routine patrol and was not responding to any calls when he stopped at the right curb lane stop bar of Belcher Road for the red traffic signal at Ulmerton Road.
Investigators say westbound Ulmerton Road had the green traffic signal. Deputy Lewis saw no immediate westbound traffic on Ulmerton Road and proceeded to make a right turn to go west on Ulmerton Road from Belcher Road. As Deputy Lewis was making his turn, the driver’s front corner of his Tahoe was struck by 29-year-old Daniel Serrao, operating an Ancheer electric mountain bicycle.
Investigators determined that Serrao was riding his electric bicycle in battery mode. He traveled northbound using the Ulmerton Road crosswalk and say Serrao was crossing Ulmerton Road on a do not walk’ pedestrian signal when he struck the Tahoe driven by Deputy Lewis.
Investigators say Serrao was transported to the hospital for serious, but non-life-threatening injuries to his right leg. Deputy Lewis was not injured.
Impairment does not appear to be a factor.
The investigation continues and we will update this story as details are releases.