Collier sheriff’s vehicle involved in crash, other driver arrested for DUI

A Collier County sheriff’s deputy was seriously injured in a crash early Saturday.

The deputy, 46, was transported to NCH, according to Florida Highway Patrol. That deputy is now recovering in the hospital.

A second driver, Tyler Joseph Korpela, 36, was arrested for DUI in the crash after running a red light, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

A witness says he was waiting at a red light in the intersection where the crash happened. Paul Diaz believes what happened to the white pickup truck could’ve been him.

“If I got the light, that truck would’ve hit my driver door and it really made me grateful it made me grateful to be alive,” Diaz said.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the crash happened at the intersection of Collier Boulevard and Davis Boulevard just before 1:30 a.m.

Diaz was picking up his friends from work at the time of the crash. They were waiting at a red light at the intersection of Davis and Collier Boulevards when he heard one of his friends scream. Then, Diaz looked up.

“As I looked up, I see a police officer that was turning left and a gentleman he ran a light and he hit the police officer. And I just remember [a] bunch of smoke in the air,” said Diaz.

Korpela was traveling southbound in a pickup on Collier Boulevard, approaching Davis Boulevard. The deputy was facing north in the left turn lane to turn onto Davis Boulevard with a green light. The pickup ran the red light and struck the SUV.

The pickup truck hit the passenger side of the patrol vehicle. The crash sent the FHP trooper to the hospital with serious injuries. Even though he was in pain the deputy knew what he needed to do.

“He sat in the vehicle a little bit he got up sprung into action called for backup immediately,” said Diaz.

Korpela, 36, was arrested for driving under the influence. Ken Watson is a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper. “No one is safe when there are impaired drivers on the road not even fully marked deputies policemen and state troopers,” Watson said.

“God forbid that was a vehicle, you know, with a bunch of kids in it. The result would have been much different,” Diaz said.

This is not Korpela’s first run-in with law enforcement. He was arrested in February of this year fo DUI.