Deputies stop wrong-way driver with history of arrests

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – A wrong-way driver crashed head-on with a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office cruiser Tuesday night, deputies said.

The incident occurred on US 301, just south of Gibsonton Drive. Deputies said they received several calls about a black pickup truck traveling northbound in the southbound lanes around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday.

All available patrol units from the surrounding area were immediately dispatched to US 301 in an attempt to stop the southbound traffic in the path of the suspect vehicle, the Sheriff’s Office says.LISTEN TO THE 911 CALLS BELOW:

According to deputies, the pickup truck continued the wrong way, driving straight through the red traffic signals at Big Bend Road, continuing down US 301 with no intention to stop. Deputies deployed stop sticks but the vehicle continued without stopping.

As deputy vehicles surrounded the suspect’s truck, the driver rammed a marked patrol unit in an attempt to escape.

Three sheriff’s office vehicles were damaged during the ordeal, deputies said. At this point, the driver got out of the car and fought with deputies before being taken into custody, officials said. The suspect, 20-year-old Derek Wayne Hyde, has been charged with Aggravated Battery of a Law Enforcement Officer, Fleeing and Eluding, Reckless Driving, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Carolyn Griffin, who lives nearby, was headed home and saw all the commotion.

“I don’t know why his light is off, his headlights off and he’s driving the wrong way.. that’s very dangerous,” Griffin said.

Griffin immediately called her husband. He went outside and saw deputies, just as they were taking Hyde into custody.

“We could see they had boxed him in.. they had boxed him in from three sides.. by that time they had taken him out of the truck and they were going through the arrest process and all that, so i knew it was pretty serious. i wasn’t sure exactly what was happening, but i knew it was pretty serious,” said Anthony Griffin.

No motorists, citizens, or deputies were injured in the ordeal.

Additional charges are pending.

Derek Hyde has a history of arrests with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. He’s been booked eight times for charges including grand theft of a motor vehicle, domestic violence, assault with a deadly weapon, felony battery, and more.