Page 4 April 25, 2012
The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
IPD Officer Involved in Two Crashes,
Remembering the past
One with Patrol32,Car in a crash, April
An Inglis Police Officer, Timothy Brian Swiggett,
was involved
19, about 1.3 miles west of U.S. Hwy. 19, in Inglis. Swiggett was driving a marked Inglis
police patrol vehicle, a 2011 Dodge Charger. At the time of the crash, about 9:26 p.m., Ofc.
Swiggett was traveling west on County Rd.
40. Gordon Dewey, 81, of Inglis, was travel-
ing behind Swiggett, driving a 2002 Chevrolet
Blazer, also traveling west. The report stated
that Swiggett traveled into the eastbound lane
and made a wide right turn, and traveled onto
the north grass shoulder, while Dewey con-
tinued west in the westbound land. Swiggett
traveled back into the westbound lane in the
path of Dewey, which caused Dewey s Blazer
to strike the right side on the patrol car with its
left front. The report stated that Dewey s ve-
hicle made no skid marks during the crash. The report also stated that the patrol car was not
responding to a call and did not have its emergency lights on during the crash. Both cars
were traveling below the posted speed limit, according to the report.
Neither Swiggett nor Dewey received injuries during the crash and were both wear-
ing seatbelts. However, a passenger in Dewey s vehicle, Roy Degroot, 73, also of Inglis, was
transported to Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center in Crystal River. DeGroot told The
Newscaster he was bleeding profusely with blood in his eyes and stepped out of the car look-
ing for something to stop the bleeding. He said another IPD officer in another IPD car said
he was directly behind them stepped up and explained he saw what was going to happen and
tried to warn the driver he was going to be in the path of Dewey s car. Degroot, said both
men were wearing seat belts, but still hit his head on impact which required 12 staples and
Crowds showed up for the ground breaking ceremony for the Inglis Lock and Hwy 19 bridge
5 stitches.
Swiggett was cited with failing to drive within a single lane. The report estimated just south of Inglis in May of 1967. Governor Haydon Burns was guest speaker. The project
damages to both vehicles at $2,500. M. Sgt. William T. Bishop with Troop B of the FHP was designed by the Army Corps of Engineers and sponsored by the Canal Authority of Florida
5093 S. Orwell Pt., Homosassa, Florida 34446
as part of the Cross-Florida Barge Canal plan.
investigated the crash.
Phone: (352) 489-4588 Fax: (727) 362-4788
Swiggett was also involved in a crash on March 7 that was investigated by Ofc.
Email, Tom Russell, Publisher: thenewscaster1@gmail.com
Brian Hilberer of the Inglis Police Department. According to the crash report which was
Email, Debbie Russell, Editor: debbienewscaster@gmail.com
based on statements made by Swiggett and his passenger, Swiggett was traveling east on
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County Rd. 40 east, around 1:45 a.m., driving a 1984 Buick sedan, and applied the brakes to Advertising at Reasonable Rates for S Levy, NE Citrus & SW Marion Counties
slow down in order to turn right onto Tronu Dr. and the rear of Swiggett s vehicle began to
overtake the front of the vehicle, causing the rear of the vehicle to start rotating clockwise,
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so that he was unable to negotiate the turn and impacted a brick sign with the front of the
vehicle. The vehicle came to rest at the brick sign. Swiggett was issued a citation for careless
driving. After the scene was cleared by Ofc. Hilberer, Swiggett removed the vehicle from
the scene of the crash. The report stated that the crash caused about $2,500 in damage to
Swiggett s vehicle and about $1,000 damage to a sign and fence at Inglis Villas. Swiggett s
passenger was Jason B. Gallup, 34, 13 Tronu Dr., Inglis. No mention was made of injuries to
either Swiggett or Gallup, and alcohol was not a contributing factor, according to the report.
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