Tailgating Silverado Driver Smashes the Front of Sheriff's Ford Explorer

SAN ANGELO, TX — A Tom Green County Sheriff’s deputy driving a Ford Explorer patrol vehicle was hit by a man driving a Chevrolet Silverado pickup Thursday afternoon.

According to DPS Trooper Robert Aldrete, there were no injuries, but the pickup driver is luck he was able to prevent his truck from rolling over.

The deputy was responding without lights to a call to check on the welfare of a man seen picking up trash along FM 2105 and on SH 208. As the deputy was driving north on SH 208 just past the FM 2105 intersection, the pickup driver was behind the deputy, following too close Aldrete said.

The deputy signaled to turn left and slowed. As the sheriff’s Explorer slowed, the driver of the pickup did not react in time. Aldrete said he was trailing too close and may have been distracted.

To avoid rear-ending the deputy, the pickup driver swerved into the oncoming lane of traffic. He lost control, Aldrete said, and merged back into the northbound lane, clipping the driver’s side front quarter panel of the deputy’s explorer.

Damage to the Silverado’s rear axle rendered it undrivable. The Silverado’s driver was cited for driving on wrong side of the road in a no-passing area. The speed limit along this stretch of SH 208 is 55 mph.