On 7/4/17 at approximately 12:59 a.m., a Hernando County deputy was driving eastbound on Cortez Boulevard, near McKethan Road, in Ridge Manor, when the driver of a vehicle approached traveling west in the eastbound lane.
The deputy, and the driver of a truck traveling in front of the deputy, both swerved off of the roadway to avoid a collision.
The wrong-way driver continued heading west in the eastbound lane as the deputy attempted to turn around and radio for assistance to another deputy who was on patrol near I-75 and Cortez Boulevard.
About a minute after running the deputy off the road, the driver collided head on with the driver of another vehicle who was traveling east on Cortez Boulevard, near the Ridge Manor Campground.
The drivers of both vehicles, who are not being identified at this time, died at the scene of the crash.
The deputy involved in the initial encounter with the wrong-way driver was not injured.
Cortez Boulevard remains blocked off in both directions from McKethan Road to Westwood Drive.
The Florida Highway Patrol has been called in to investigate the crash.
There are no additional details available as this time.