A 35 year old Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer and a 24 year old woman are dead following a wrong-way crash Thursday afternoon along Okeechobee Road in rural St. Lucie County.
In a Tweet on Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis identified the deceased officer as Senior Investigator Kyle Patterson, who was on duty at the time of the crash.
.@FLCaseyDeSantis and I will be praying for the family of fallen FWC Senior Investigator Kyle Patterson, who will be remembered for his dedication to conservation and protecting our communities. https://t.co/7wvjegUlqO
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) June 10, 2022
Florida Highway Patrol officials say a 24 year old woman from Tampa was driving a four-door Kia eastbound in the westbound lanes of Okeechobee Road just after 12:00 PM when she collided head-on with Patterson’s unmarked FWC pickup truck.
She was pronounced dead at the scene near Okeechobee Road and South Header Canal Road.
Patterson was airlifted to Lawnwood Hospital in Ft. Pierce where he succumbed to his injuries.
He leaves behind wife and small children.
The identity of the woman has also not been released.
The crash remains under investigation.