Pasco County deputy's cruiser hits car that then hits public bus

NEW PORT RICHEY — A Pasco sheriff's deputy caused a crash on U.S. 19 Wednesday that sent him and seven other people to area hospitals with minor injuries, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The crash occurred shortly before noon at U.S. 19 and Limit Drive, just south of the bridge over the Pithlachascotee River. The FHP said Deputy James Dattoma rear-ended a white Daewoo station wagon that was stopped behind a county bus, which was letting off passengers.

The driver of the Daewoo, Cynthia Young of Hudson, as well as bus driver Cynthia Loving and five passengers were injured in the chain collision. The accident temporarily closed two southbound lanes, creating a bottleneck for drivers.

FHP 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.

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."

Comments on this article

by john	May 9, 2008 8:56 PM
Responding to a call of a man with a gun with no sirens and lights on US19 BS I have seen pasco county police turn on there lights to make a red then turn them off. Its a crock,you or I roll through a stop or forget to signal Ticket.

by Joshua	May 9, 2008 4:54 PM
Its funny to see everyone bad mouthing a deputy but the truth is when things go wrong all of you call them because you can't handle the situation yourselves. So quit judging deputies or start handling your problems yourself!

by ted	May 9, 2008 11:30 AM
at least some type of moving vol. cop or not accident causin injury, i bet if he could he would have left the scenc too. without ticket, it just cant be fair that he can write us all .for as little as no seatbelt but he can rear end a car and no tick

by allen	May 9, 2008 11:30 AM
if i was on the p.c. or using nav, and rear ended a car ..he would have taken me to jail. and the car to pound, and i'd be awaiting a trial..he should be done the very same, a cop care is no diff. then the rest of the cars, no way he was in hot persu

by Sal	May 9, 2008 11:15 AM
It's appauling today that people who don't know someone automatically assume that they know how he feels. Do you know this Deputy or know how he feels right now? NO !!! Then don't be so quick to judge. God Bless him and his family.

by Debbie	May 9, 2008 11:14 AM
I just hope the deputy was not on his private cell phone. I see so many of the deputies/police officers on cell phones while driving. You know they aren't police issue. I hope everyone is going to be okay.

by Discussed	May 9, 2008 11:11 AM
Cost of Business? For who, the taxpayers? I wish they would find those escaped monkeys and hire them.

by JR	May 9, 2008 11:10 AM
WOW GIVE THE GUY A BREAK!FINACIAL OBLIGATIONS WILL BE MET.WITH OUR TAX PAYING DOLLARS!!!! NO WONDER OUR TAXES KEEP GOING UP.AND PASCO CO IS STILL BROKE!!!DO THE MATH.

by bad press	May 9, 2008 11:09 AM
I didn't notice any dispatched calls for man with gun on pasco co. website under dispatched calls just prior to this accident.is this another pasco co cover-up?

by Tommy	May 8, 2008 2:47 PM
Tough Crowd is right! obviously the guy with the gun wasnt in there house, or you wouldn't mind a cop in a hurry to come save you!!

by bad press	May 8, 2008 2:30 PM
Its terrible that people are so quick to verbally attack another. Especially an officer of the Law. It takes alot to do what they do for us everyday.It is shameful to make accusations about someone just by reading what was printed in this article.

by Bruce	May 8, 2008 2:27 PM
22 year old deputy, responding to a call with no sirens or lights, is not looking at where he was going and slams into a car stopped in traffic. I wonder if the call he was responding to was for him, or did he just opt to go and help his co-work

by Kevin	May 8, 2008 2:23 PM
I use to run every morning down trouble creek. I routinly saw these clowns flying down the road on the way to the court house. Especially, the brass on the way to roll call. Easily doing at least twice the speed limit.

by Jay	May 8, 2008 1:59 PM
It doesn't matter if he was responding to a call or not, it is still his responsibility to be in control of his vehicle and the situation around him. It wasn't like he was broadsided...he nailed someone from behind. Charge him!!!

by JR	May 8, 2008 1:26 PM
Wow, tough crowd.Give the poor guy a break!The department will meet all of their financial obligations regarding injury and property.I read the article and the deputy didn't deny anything.Give the guy the benefit of explanation.

by PASCO PETE	May 8, 2008 10:50 AM
OK LET'S THINK ABOUT THIS IF HE WAS RESPONDING TO A CALL A MAN WITH A GUN WITH OUT HIS SIRENS OR EVEN JUST HIS LIGHTS ON COME ON JUST BE A BIG BOY AND ADMIT YOU WERE NOT PAYING ATTENTION. ACCIDENTS HAPPEN. WE GET SUED WE PAY YOUR AT FAULT.

by Dawn	May 8, 2008 8:56 AM
Was this officer paying attention to the road while he was responding to a call, or was he looking at his laptop,or talking on his cell phone? I don't care if he was responded or not, someone needs to take responsibility for this accident.

by joanne	May 8, 2008 8:56 AM
where were his lights and siren. he was shaken up maybe they should check his blood for toxicalogy test. he was on his way to a person with a gun any more on that? he was maybe thinking about something and not paying attention happens to all of us.

by alan	May 8, 2008 8:55 AM
please,,please,we see them all the time 60 percent of there drivin is on the p.c. monitor,please,,responding or not i want this guy ticketed,,at least,for causing an accident and rear-endin a car causing injury,,story says nothin about a ticket,

by cd	May 8, 2008 8:55 AM
I saw one today going over 100 mph on Hudson Ave and on his computer. Talk about multi tasking. Atleast he wasn't on his cell phone, that would be dangerous.

by stupid decisions	May 8, 2008 8:55 AM
they should be accountable for driving safely at all times. That includes while being behind the wheel on a call or not. If a regular citizen did this they would be charged. What makes them so special? Oh, that's right their above the law..

by unreal	May 8, 2008 8:55 AM
Chalked up to the cost of doing business? So if they kill someone because their playing with their computer while driving that's okay?Tell the families of the victims its the cost of doing business. Just what kind of business are you in?