Collier County deputy dies in I-75 crash

FORT MYERS, Fla. — A Collier County deputy was killed in a crash Thursday morning on Interstate 75 near mile marker 130, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office said.

Corrections Department Cpl. Mark Lucente, 48, was on his way to work when he was killed in the wreck involving a semi-truck and another vehicle.

The driver of the truck was uninjured, Florida Highway Patrol said. The driver of the third vehicle involved, identified as Luis Juarbe, 52, of Lehigh Acres, was taken to Gulf Coast Medical Center with minor injuries.

Troopers say both Juarbe and Lucente were travelling at a slow rate of speed on I-75 when the semi-truck crashed into Lucente’s vehicle and pushed it into Juarbe’s car.

It is unknown why Juarbe and Lucente were travelling at slow speeds, FHP said. The crash remains under investigation and charges are pending, according to FHP.

Lucente was a veteran of the U.S. Army and began his career with CCSO in 1999.

“This is a tragic and sudden loss of a dedicated public servant,” Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said. “I extend my sympathy to his family, his friends and the members of our agency. I know the citizens of Collier County join CCSO as we mourn. Thank you for your prayers for our deputy and his family.”

“One thing I will remember, he would take a really hard situation and turn it completely the other way. Ever since I met him, I tried to model myself after that,” said Anthony Scine, Lucente’s friend and former supervisor. “He dedicated all his time to everybody he cared.”

Law enforcement agencies across the area also took to social media Thursday to share their condolences over the loss of the Collier County deputy.

#MarcoIsland Police Department extends its deepest condolences to Corporal Lucente’s family and to @CollierSheriff https://t.co/3HMW78bLRH
— Marco Island PD (@MarcoIslandPD) May 26, 2016

Thoughts and prayers https://t.co/UacYPbzK46
— Polk County Sheriff (@PolkCoSheriff) May 26, 2016

Our thoughts & prayers are with our brothers and sisters to the south @CollierSheriff https://t.co/LtKtH5oZ22
— SarasotaPD (@sarasotapd) May 26, 2016

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