2 Palm Beach County deputies on motorcycles struck, killed in morning crash

article

Credit: WPTV

ORLANDO, Fla. - Two Palm Beach County deputies are dead, and a third is in critical condition after a crash Thursday morning, according to officials.

The crash happened on Southern Boulevard near Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, west of West Palm Beach. Authorities said a sport utility vehicle struck and killed the two deputies.

Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said three deputies were working a traffic detail when one of the deputies had mechanical trouble with his motorcycle. The two other deputies rode over to the third who was in the median to assist.

It was at that time, a woman driving an SUV was traveling in the center lane and passed a vehicle on the left lane closest to the median and struck the deputies.

"It doesn't look like the driver was impaired. It just looks like one of those things where she overcompensated and got off the road," the sheriff said.

All three were transported to St. Mary's Medical Center, where the two deputies were pronounced deceased and the third underwent surgery. The sheriff’s office has not released the names of the deputies.

"Law enforcement, public safety, and the military are the only professions when you leave the house and kiss your family goodbye; that might be the last time," the sheriff said, adding, "when a deputy dies, a piece of the community dies with them."

The Florida Highway Patrol is jointly investigating the deadly crash with the sheriff's office.

STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: