The Eyrie

ORANGE COUNTY, FL — A Florida Highway Patrol trooper was seriously injured Tuesday night when a southbound pickup truck struck his marked patrol vehicle on State Road 429 in Orange County, according to FHP. The trooper had been stationed near an active construction zone and was working a lane closure when the crash happened.

Officials said the trooper was inside his vehicle with emergency lights activated at the time of impact. The crash happened at 9:12 p.m. near mile marker 6, in the Bay Lake area. Both the trooper and the other driver were taken to hospitals with serious injuries.

FHP says the trooper was protecting a lane closure when the crash happened

FHP said the trooper was managing traffic near the work zone when the collision occurred. His patrol car was stationary in the roadway, and the agency said a Toyota Tundra traveling southbound failed to move over before hitting the back of the cruiser.

The impact left both vehicles damaged and sent the trooper to HCA Osceola Regional Medical Hospital by air ambulance. FHP said he remains in stable condition after the crash.

The driver of the Toyota, a 53-year-old man from Davenport, was taken to Celebration Hospital with serious injuries. Officials have not released his name.

Driver and trooper both suffered serious injuries

Investigators have not said whether the pickup driver has been cited or could face charges. FHP also has not identified the trooper involved in the crash.

For now, the agency is focusing on the seriousness of the injuries and the circumstances that led to the collision. The trooper was performing a roadside safety duty in a marked vehicle with lights on, which is meant to warn approaching drivers and protect workers and responders in the area.

The crash adds to a pattern law enforcement officials say they see too often on Florida roads when motorists fail to slow down or move over for stopped vehicles.

Florida officials point to the Move Over law after the crash

Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Executive Director Dave Kerner said the incident is a reminder of the dangers faced by law enforcement officers, road workers and other responders. In a statement, he said the simple act of moving over gives them room to work safely and helps protect everyone on the road.

Kerner said many preventable injuries and deaths have happened over the years because drivers did not give roadside personnel enough space. His comments came as officials again urged motorists to pay attention when they see emergency lights, service vehicles or other stopped traffic near the roadway.

The warning is especially relevant in work zones, where traffic patterns can shift quickly and drivers may encounter lane closures, stopped vehicles and roadside crews all at once.

What Florida drivers are required to do when they see roadside vehicles

Under Florida’s Move Over law, drivers must change lanes when possible for emergency, service, utility and disabled vehicles stopped on the side of the road. If moving over is not safe, drivers are supposed to slow to 20 mph below the posted speed limit.

The law was expanded in 2025 to cover any vehicle parked on the roadside with hazards on, emergency flares or emergency signage. Officials said a vehicle with a flat tire also falls under the rule.

Violations can lead to fines, fees and points on a driver’s record. FHP said the law remains an important tool for reducing collisions like the one on SR 429.

FHP says thousands of citations were issued last year for Move Over violations

Florida Highway Patrol said more than 17,000 citations were issued in 2025 for Move Over violations, along with 215 crashes tied to those offenses. The numbers show how often drivers still fail to adjust when approaching stopped vehicles on the shoulder or in active traffic areas.

Those enforcement figures also help explain why state officials continue to stress awareness around roadside safety. Even with clear rules in place, FHP said crashes still happen when motorists do not give workers, officers and stranded drivers enough space.

In Tuesday’s case, the agency said the crash occurred while the trooper was doing his job in a clearly marked patrol vehicle. Investigators have not released additional details about the sequence of events.