BREAKING: Deputy involved in fatal crash en route to crash

Palm Coast Observer
News

11:40 a.m. UPDATE

The man driving the van has been identified as Eduardo Luis Pacheco, 64, of Palm Coast.

9:30 a.m. UPDATE:

The name of the deputy is Christopher Lee Crego. He has head and facial injuries and was transported to Halifax Hospital. The name of the passenger of the white van who died is not being released yet, pending notification of next of kin.

9:20 a.m. UPDATE:

Interview with Dylan Bryan, public information officer with the Florida Highway Patrol:

A Flagler County Sheriff's deputy was responding to an emergency call westbound on State Road 100. At that point, he was approaching the intersection here at West Black. The vehicle that was in front of him, which is the white van that's currently on the scene, began to yield to the emergency vehicle or had stopped in the roadway for that emergency vehicle.

At that point, the deputy's car struck the back end of the van, causing the van to overturn into the shoulder. The deputy came to rest in the shoulder as well. A school bus was traveling eastbound on 100, and was approaching the same intersection at the time of the collision. Immediately after the collision, debris struck the school bus.

The school bus has three people on board: the driver, the aide and one student. They were going to Indian Trails Middle School. The student is 15 years of age. No injuries.

The deputy was transported to Halifax Hospital with head and facial injuries.

The driver of the white van sustained fatal injuries and is still on the scene.

Law enforcement will probably be on the scene for another hour and a half (until about 10:45 a.m.).

9:11 a.m. UPDATE:

We reported earlier that a Bunnell Police Department car was being towed. That is true, but it was a coincidence. The police car was not involved in this crash.

9:09 a.m. UPDATE:

The deputy was responding to another crash. The deputy's name is not being released yet, according to Andrew O'Brien.

9:07 a.m. UPDATE:

It was confirmed that it was a deputy from the Sheriff's Office involved in the crash.

PREVIOUS STORY:

A deputy with the Flagler County Sheriff's Office was involved in a crash this morning. A person in the opposing vehicle was killed. The Florida Highway Patrol is conducting the investigation.

The opposing vehicle was a "full-size work van."

Andrew O'Brien is on the scene and we will provide updates as they come. He is being routed on a dirt road called Black Point Road, off State Road 100 West.