CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — A sheriff's deputy is in critical condition after being hit by a car following the Lecanto High School graduation ceremony Tuesday night.

According to the sheriff’s office, a 19-year-old driver heading south on Lecanto Highway struck Deputy Andy Lahera while he was directing traffic.

Other deputies on scene immediately rendered aid.

A medevac helicopter was called in to fly Lahera to a nearby trauma center, where he remains in critical condition.

The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.

The Citrus County Sheriff's Office did not say whether anyone was taken into custody.

In a statement, the school system said: "Last night, one of our school resource officers was involved in a traffic accident after he was struck by a vehicle after the Lecanto High School graduation. We send our continued prayers to the Lahera family, his law enforcement family, and our entire community.  We have school counselors on campus at several of our schools today throughout the county to support our faculty and students to help them cope with this terrible accident."

Sheriff Mike Prendergast said Lahera is "loved by all."

“Andy Lahera is a big teddy bear, loved by all, respected by all of those kids he’s touched the lives of. We know that the lives he’s touched will have a lasting impact on those kids in those schools," he said.

Lahera has been with the sheriff's office since 2009 and has been a school resource officer since 2018.

If you would like to support Deputy Lahera and his family, Nature Coast FOP 164 has organized a meal train, with all proceeds going directly to the Lahera family. If you wish to send a donation, click here:
https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/g61rq8.