Collier sheriff's deputy hits, kills pedestrian

A Collier County sheriff’s deputy’s patrol car struck and killed a pedestrian Tuesday night in Immokalee.

The Florida Highway Patrol said Deputy Benjamin Rowe, 35, was westbound at 10:24 p.m. in the outside lane of State Road 29 approaching North Third Street when a pedestrian walked in front of his car.

The front left of Rowe’s 2005 Ford Crown Victoria struck the pedestrian, identified as Vicente Jeronimo of Immokalee. Jeronimo was pronounced dead at the scene. The vehicle came to rest facing west in the outside westbound lane of State Road 29 about 120 feet west of North Third Street, authorities said.

An FHP accident report indicated Jeronimo’s age was not known.

Rowe was wearing his seat belt and was not injured in the accident. The accident report indicated there was about $5,000 damage to the patrol car.

Kristin Adams, a spokeswoman for the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, said Rowe will be placed on temporary administrative leave, which is the agency’s policy. He will be back to work this weekend, she said.