Police officer, fire chief involved in separate crashes

Longboat Key Police Officer Dennis Silverio and Fire Rescue Chief Paul Dezzi were involved in separate crashes this afternoon.

A driver rear-ended Silverio’s patrol vehicle while he was turning onto Gulf of Mexico Drive around the 4400 block. While Dezzi was en route to the scene to investigate, another driver rear-ended his vehicle.

Silverio was transported from the scene with minor injuries as a precaution, according to Longboat Key Police Chief Pete Cumming. Dezzi and the other two drivers were not injured.

Traffic backed up for several blocks on Gulf of Mexico Drive to the north and south of both crashes earlier this afternoon.

Both crashes are under investigation.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].