This footage was filmed and produced 6 January 2024.

In a heart-stopping moment captured on body camera footage, a St. Petersburg police officer narrowly avoided a potentially fatal collision when a white Kia sedan smashed into his patrol car as he was conducting a routine traffic stop on I-375. The officer, whose identity has not been disclosed, escaped with minor injuries to his hand, for which he received treatment at Bayfront Health Hospital.

The dramatic incident unfolded near the 5th Avenue North on-ramp in St. Petersburg on January 6th, with the officer's vehicle clearly marking its presence with emergency lights illuminating the scene. The driver of the Kia, identified as 24-year-old Mackenzie Paige Deaton, attempted to flee the scene but was swiftly apprehended by authorities.

Deaton now faces charges of serious bodily injury hit and run, tampering with evidence, and multiple citations in connection with the alarming collision. The St. Petersburg Police Department emphasized the importance of adhering to road safety protocols, particularly in the vicinity of emergency vehicles or disabled cars, to prevent such harrowing incidents.