A Clearwater police officer was struck by a van and injured Monday afternoon, authorities said.
Officer Fontayne Egger, a 25-year veteran of the Clearwater Police Department, was working an extra-duty assignment connected to a turkey giveaway at the Salvation Army at S Highland Avenue.
Police said Egger was directing traffic on Highland Avenue around 1 p.m. when a van trying to turn north onto Highland suddenly accelerated and veered into her. After striking Egger, the van veered up and over the curb and sidewalk.
The driver of the van was Donna J. Jones, 62, of Clearwater. She told investigators that the accelerator had stuck.
Neither she nor a passenger in the van was injured.
Highland Avenue was shut down for several hours as the investigation continued.
Officer Egger, 49, was taken to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg for treatment.
Her injuries were considered non-life-threatening.