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Polk County deputy hospitalized after crash

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 15, 2009

Updated: 11/15/2009 03:59 pm

James Barber

A deputy's cruiser rolled and landed in a ditch this morning after a car headed the other way on U.S. 92 in Auburndale jumped the median.

Deputy James Barber Jr., who was driving to work about 5:30 a.m., was taken to the hospital with a broken leg and other injuries that were not life-threatening, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Here's what happened, according to a sheriff's office release:

Barber was heading east on U.S. 92 near the sheriff's office northwest district substation in Davenport, when Damassy Carlota Ortiz, 31, lost control of her 1997 Honda as she was heading west, the sheriff's office.

Her car started to fishtail and crossed the median, hitting Barber's patrol car, which rolled and landed in a ditch on the passenger side.

Barber was trapped for about an hour until rescue workers got him out.

Ortiz, of Winter Haven, was not injured, though she was taken to Winter Haven Hospital for examination.

Part of U.S. 92 in Auburndale was closed for about three hours while the sheriff's office investigated the accident.

Barber, 25, started working in animal control since 2006 and became a deputy in October 2008.

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