TAMPA, Fla. — A Tampa police officer heading eastbound on the Selmon Expressway almost crashed with two other cars traveling in the wrong direction of the 78th Street ramp exit at 2:34 a.m. Sunday, authorities say.
While driving on the exit, officer Scott Van Treese swerved his patrol car to avoid colliding with two cars, a small sedan and a van, Tampa Police Department said in a news release.
"I didn't have time to think," Van Treese said. "As soon as I saw the headlights, it just was a shock."
Van Treese reportedly sent an alert for other police officers to be on the lookout for those two cars due to the concern for the safety of other drivers on the expressway, but the drivers were never found.
Van Treese said he was in bringing another man in his car to jail for alleged drunk driving and ironically, going the wrong way.
"The Tampa Police Department wants to remind drivers to never drive distracted or impaired," TPD said in a statement. "Please remember to have a designated driver when drinking or use a ride share service."