On Tuesday, January 21st, a rollover crash in Levy County involving a Hillsborough County prisoner transport van resulted in injuries to five occupants. The driver of another vehicle involved in the accident died, while two sheriff’s deputies and three prisoners in the van suffered traumatic injuries, according to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP).
The rollover accident happened about 10:24 a.m. as the van headed south on U.S. 19 in Levy County, troopers noted. At the intersection of NW 140th Street, a 2007 Ford sedan proceeded west through a stop sign and into the path of the approaching van.
The van’s driver, Hillsborough Detention Deputy Cephus L. Former, age 62, attempted to avoid the crash by swerving to the right, according to FHP. As he swerved, the Ford struck the side of the van. The van was sent spinning sideways before it rolled over once and came to a rest upright on the side of the road.
The driver of the Ford sedan, Debra E. Cotton, age 40, of Milton, was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. Both deputies were transported to a Hospital in Gainesville for treatment of only minor injuries. The three prisoners were also treated for minor injuries. Troopers identified them as Sean T. Powell, 42; Darrell S. Milner, 51; and Joseph Armbruster, 38. All three, serving various sentences for different felony offenses, were headed back to Hillsborough County for court hearings when the crash happened.
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