1. Posted on Thu, Feb. 16, 2006

BSO deputy killed in I-595 crash in Davie

BY JENNIFER LEBOVICH, MARTIN MERZER and WANDA J. DeMARZO

A young Broward Sheriff's Office deputy was killed in a car crash Wednesday night on Interstate 595, officials said.

The accident occurred at around 9:15 p.m. in the westbound lanes of I-595 at Southwest 136th Avenue, killing deputy Ryan Seguin, 23, according to BSO spokesman Jim Leljedal.

Seguin had already been recognized for helping save a child's life after just three years with BSO. He was the agency's first deputy to die in a traffic accident in the line of duty in more than six years.

Seguin was in an unmarked Dodge Stratus, but the emergency lights in the rear of the vehicle were flashing, said Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Pat Santangelo.

The deputy had pulled over a Ford Taurus and the two vehicles were on the right shoulder of the roadway near the entrance ramp to westbound 595 from Hiatus Road.

A red Toyota, traveling westbound, appears to have drifted off the road, striking the Ford Taurus and the deputy, who was on the driver's side of the car, but not in the roadway, Santangelo said. The car that struck the deputy stopped at the scene, he said.

The deputy was assigned to Weston, Leljedal said. His name was released early today after his family was notified.

Seguin was one of two deputies who received employee of the month honors in November 2004, according to a message from BSO District Chief Greg Page on BSO's website.

Page praised Seguin and deputy Larry Akers: ``Their quick actions saved the life of a young child who had strayed into a local lake and was in danger of drowning.''

Seguin was presented with a ''Life Saving Award'' by Sheriff Ken Jenne in 2005.

Late Wednesday night, a line of squad cars, lights flashing, blocked westbound traffic on I-595 around 136th Avenue in Davie, bringing traffic to a halt.

Access to the highway was blocked at Hiatus and Flamingo roads, and all westbound traffic was redirected onto State Road 84, but delays were long.

One severely damaged and possibly charred car could be seen in the westbound traffic lanes of I-595.

The last BSO deputy killed in a traffic accident while in the line of duty was Michael Doane, 26, who died on Christmas Eve 1999 as a result of the critical injuries he suffered about two weeks earlier responding to the scene of a nightclub shooting in Lauderdale Lakes.

Doane, racing to search for a gunman who had shot a fellow deputy, swerved to avoid a car while driving on State Road 7 near Northwest 19th Street.

Doane collided head-on with two parked vehicles and was rushed to Broward General Medical Center with severe head and internal injuries. Despite a trauma team's efforts to save his life, Doane never recovered.

Recognizing the danger officers face on the road, Florida in 2002 passed its ''Move Over'' law, which requires drivers to switch lanes or slow down when approaching a police or emergency vehicle stopped on any state highway.

On Jan. 22, a rookie Florida Highway Patrol trooper was struck by a truck and seriously injured during a traffic stop in Broward. Trooper Darryl Haywood Jr. had stopped a motorist heading south on Florida's Turnpike, just south of the Hollywood Boulevard exit, for a burned-out light.

Haywood, who survived and has been recovering from his injuries, is the son of a trooper who was killed about 15 months ago while chasing a speeder.

2. Florida deputy killed during traffic stop
ASSOCIATED PRESS

DAVIE, Fla. - A Broward County sheriff's deputy was killed when he was struck by a car during a traffic stop on Interstate 595, authorities said.
Ryan Seguin, 23, stopped a westbound car shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office.
Seguin was standing outside when a car drifted into the emergency lane and hit the deputy, said Lt. Pat Santangelo, a spokesman for the Florida Highway Patrol.
Seguin, a three-year BSO deputy, was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.
He was driving an unmarked department vehicle, but the emergency lights in the rear of the vehicle were flashing, Santangelo said. It was not immediately clear why Seguin pulled the vehicle over.
A female deputy who was with Seguin suffered injuries from flying debris and was taken to a local hospital, Santangelo said.
Valdo Vega, the 21-year-old driver of the car that struck Seguin, had minor injuries. He has not been charged. The driver of the car that was pulled over was not injured.
Florida law requires that when an emergency vehicle is stopped on the side of the roadway, oncoming drivers must vacate the closest lane. If heavy traffic prevents that, a driver is required to slow down to 20 mph below the posted speed limit.
An investigation will determine if charges should be filed, Santangelo said.
Seguin, whose father is a retired Fort Lauderdale police officer, was presented with a "Life Saving Award" by Sheriff Ken Jenne in 2005. He was credited with saving the life of a child who was in danger of drowning.

3. Broward sheriff's deputy killed during traffic stop
Last Update: 2/16/2006 6:15:30 AM

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) - A Broward Sheriff's Office deputy is dead after he was struck by a car during a traffic stop on Interstate-five-95.
B-S-O officials say 23-year-old Ryan Seguin stopped a westbound car for speeding shortly after 9 last night.
Lieutenant Pat Santangelo with the Florida Highway Patrol says Seguin was standing outside when a car drifted into the emergency lane and hit him.
Authorities say emergency lights were flashing on Seguin's unmarked department vehicle.
The three-year B-S-O deputy was pronounced dead at the scene.
Santangelo says a female deputy with Seguin suffered injuries from flying debris and was taken to a local hospital.
The driver of the car that struck Seguin is identified as 21-year-old Valdo Vega of Hollywood. Vega suffered minor injuries.
The driver of the car that was pulled over, 37-year-old Jose Lopez, wasn't injured.
An investigation will determine if charges should be filed.
Seguin was presented with a "Life Saving Award" by Sheriff Ken Jenne in 2005. He was credited with saving the life of a child in danger of drowning.

4. Latest News - Posted 7:23 A.m.
Florida deputy killed during traffic stop
By The Associated Press
Originally posted on February 16, 2006

DAVIE - A Broward Sheriff's Office deputy was killed when he was struck by a car during a traffic stop on Interstate-595, authorities said.
Ryan Seguin, 23, stopped a westbound car shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office.
Seguin was standing outside when a car drifted into the emergency lane and hit the deputy, said Lt. Pat Santangelo, a spokesman for the Florida Highway Patrol.
Seguin, a three-year BSO deputy, was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.
He was driving an unmarked department vehicle, but the emergency lights in the rear of the vehicle were flashing, Santangelo said.
It was not immediately clear why Seguin pulled the vehicle over.
A female deputy who was with Seguin suffered injuries from flying debris and was taken to a local hospital, Santangelo said.
The unidentified driver of the car that struck Seguin had minor injuries.
The driver of the car that was pulled over was not injured.
Florida law requires that when an emergency vehicle is stopped on the side of the roadway, oncoming drivers must vacate the closest lane. If heavy traffic prevents that, a driver is required to slow down to 20 mph below the posted speed limit.
An investigation will determine if charges should be filed, Santangelo said.
Seguin was presented with a "Life Saving Award" by Sheriff Ken Jenne in 2005. He was credited with saving the life of a child who was in danger of drowning.