ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – A 44-year-old sergeant with the St. Augustine Police Department is in serious condition after being hit by a car while out jogging Friday evening near his home.
The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office says Richard Warner was struck by a car driven by 33-year-old Travis Chidester on South Whitney Street about 6:30 p.m.
Warner was transported to Flagler Hospital before being transferred to Shands Jacksonville Medical Center with serious injuries, including a head injury.
"All indications, officers indicate that it was just a tragic accident. The driver did not see him," said Kevin Kelshaw, of the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies said Warner was jobbing with traffic, and was wearing dark clothing, which was hard to see.
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Police said the driver will not be charged.
People who live in the area and walk the road said they know it's a problem.
"There are no lights here. There are no street lights or anything to see anything. It's not lit up," resident Gene Taylor said. "It is dangerous. You can see how narrow the street is. There is more and more traffic, more and more people."
In fact, 10 days before the accident, deputies said, a woman was hit by a van while on her bike just a short distance down the road.
As for Warner, he's been moved to a regular room out of the intensive care unit and "is going to take some time to heal. His wife is with him," said Mark Samson, of the St. Augustine Police Department.