[PHOTO CREDIT: Provided]
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ORLANDO, Florida – The Florida Highway Patrol is mourning the loss of one of its own. Around 6 a.m. Friday morning, Trooper Tracy Vickers, 31, was involved in a crash on SR 408 near Crystal Lake Road. He succumbed to his injuries on scene and was escorted to the Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office by law enforcement.
Vickers served more than four years with FHP and began his career assigned to Lake County and was assigned to the Orlando area at the time of his death. Vickers was also a Navy veteran.
Choking back tears, FHP Col. Gene Spaulding spoke at a press conference, just before noon today, saying, “We’re all heartbroken at this tragic loss.”
Vickers was on the midnight shift and heading home at the end of his shift when the crash occurred, Spaulding said. “We are still in the very early stages of investigating the crash,” he said. “It’ll be several weeks, if not months before we have the full details of exactly what occurred.”
“At this time it does not appear he was responding to a call,” Spaulding said. “but you never know what a trooper is doing; he may have been taking enforcement action. We don’t know.”
When asked what kind of person he was, Spaulding said, “He was a trooper’s trooper. He was a mentor. “
Vickers is the 48th FHP trooper killed in the line of duty.
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. In addition, she has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
