Deputies: Man slammed into patrol car, then fled

Flagler County Sheriff's deputies, with the assistance from other law enforcement agencies, arrested a man accused of crashing into a patrol car.   The incident happened late Thursday afternoon on State Road 100, near Interstate 95.

Sean Fitzpatrick, 29, fled the scene after the crash.  There was minor damage to the vehicle, but no one was injured.

After driving north on Colbert Lane, investigators say Fitzpatrick lost control of his green Chevrolet pickup truck and crashed into the patrol car, near Waterfront Park. Deputies said he fled on foot through the brush and swam in canals trying to avoid capture as deputies searched for him.  A few tips came in which assisted deputies in locating Fitzpatrick.

"It's very dense underbrush that he was in," said Sheriff Rick Staly, "made it very difficult for the helicopter to spot him."

Sheriff Staly said that Fitzpatrick eventually grew tired and surrendered.  He had no outstanding warrants and would probably have been in a lot less trouble had he stopped after the accident, Staly added.