Bicyclist injured in crash with Pinellas deputy in Clearwater

CLEARWATER — A 62-year-old bicyclist was seriously injured Sunday night after he rode into the path of a Pinellas sheriff’s deputy’s patrol vehicle, authorities said.

Steven Greninger was trying to cross Gulf to Bay Boulevard from south to north at Hampton Road about 9 p.m. when he rode into the path of Deputy Jared Toro’s marked Chevrolet Tahoe, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Toro, who was driving west on Gulf to Bay while responding to help another deputy on a traffic stop, had a green light at the time, deputies said.

Toro swerved to avoid Greninger but struck the bicycle’s rear wheel. Greninger, of Gardiner, Montana, was taken to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg to be treated for serious injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening, deputies said. He was not wearing a helmet.

Toro was not injured.