On 07-30-18 at 12:03 a.m., Deputy David Merced was traveling north on Shoal Line Boulevard when a deer in the roadway caused him to crash his patrol vehicle into a canal.
Deputy Merced had just cleared a call for service when he spotted the deer.
He swerved in an attempt to avoid the deer. In doing so, he veered off the west side of the roadway and into a canal, just north of Petite Lane, in Hernando Beach.
His patrol vehicle was partially submerged.
Emergency personnel assisted Deputy Merced out of the vehicle and onto the roadway.
Deputy Merced was not injured in the crash. His vehicle was towed to the Sheriff’s Office garage for possible repairs.
The crash remains under investigation. No additional information is available at this time.
Submitted by Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.
