Deputy, 7 Others Injured in U.S. 19 Crash

[Lance Aram Rothstein | Times]

NEW PORT RICHEY -- The Florida Highway Patrol says a Pasco sheriff's deputy driving on U.S. 19 shortly before noon today crashed into the back of a station wagon, pushing it into the back of a stopped county bus.

At least eight people were sent to area hospitals with minor injuries, including all three drivers.

The accident happened on U.S. 19 at Limit Drive, just south of the bridge over the Pithlachascotee River. Southbound traffic could only move through one lane, creating a bottleneck for drivers.

The Highway Patrol said Deputy James Dattoma was behind a white Daewoo station wagon in the outside lane. The Daewoo, driven by Cynthia Young of Hudson, was stopped behind a bus that was letting off passengers.

Dattoma failed to stop, triggering the crash, FHP said. Spokesman Larry Coggins said charges against Dattoma would depend on whether he was responding to a call when the accident happened, because such incidents can be chalked up to "the cost of doing business in law enforcement."

Sheriff's spokesman Doug Tobin said Dattoma was, in fact, responding to a call: a report of a man with a gun. He did not have his lights and sirens activated.

“We’ll have our own internal investigation into this, which would be common when a deputy is involved in a crash,” Tobin said.

Dattoma, 22, complained of a hand injury and injuries from an air bag being deployed, Tobin said. He joined the Sheriff's Office in April 2007.

Young and six people on the bus, including driver Cynthia Loving, were also transported.

Linda Smith saw the crash from the front yard of her mobile home. She said Dattoma appeared shaken up.

"At first I thought he was here to help," said Smith, 51. "But then I saw him limping and we told him he better sit down."

-- Molly Moorhead, Times Staff Writer

[Lance Aram Rothstein  |  Times]

An injured bus driver talks to emergency workers.