The Palm Beach Post is reporting that a Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy is being charged with reckless driving following a crash in suburban West Palm Beach that seriously injured the other driver in late May.
Deputy Brandon Hegele was reportedly on-duty the afternoon of May 27, driving well above the speed limit while in a white 2015 Ford Police Interceptor when he smashed into a Smart Car while looking for a suspect vehicle.
During the 2.5 miles he drove looking for the car, Hegele went twice the speed limit and changed lanes nine times, the report said. Twice he turned on his lights and sirens to drive through red lights, according to the report, but turned them off while speeding.
He was going 104 mph when the collision occurred. The 60-year-old man had made a U-turn to go west on Southern, then changed lanes in the 50 mph zone.
The deputy slammed on the brakes, according to the report, and swerved to avoid the Smart Car.
The man’s spleen was removed because of the wreck, which also fractured his skull.
Hegele has worked for the sheriff’s office since October 2011.