By Garrett Pelican
The Florida Times-Union
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — A St. Johns County sheriff’s deputy was injured after being ejected from his motorcycle Wednesday afternoon in a crash on State Road 16 near where it meets St. Francis Road in St. Augustine.
Westbound traffic was stopped following a crash near the intersection about 4:40 p.m. as a marked motorcycle driven by Deputy Thomas Bickhart was heading west in the eastbound lane of State Road 16 to get to the scene, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Troopers said Thomas Emick, 43, of St. Augustine, did not notice the approaching motorcycle with its lights and sirens activated when he tried to turn his Nissan SUV around to avoid the traffic jam.
Deputy Bickhart tried to swerve out of the way, but his motorcycle struck the SUV and he was thrown onto the shoulder, troopers said.
The deputy was taken to Flagler Hospital for treatment of serious injuries.
Emick, who was not hurt, was cited for making an improper/unsafe U-turn, according to the Highway Patrol.