St. Lucie releases body cam of an officer being hit by a car while directing traffic
By: Richard Mazzio struggled to his feet and, using his cane, walked down the hall.
Having issues getting around is not the life the Port St. Lucie police officer is used to living.
But everything changed last Tuesday night.
“I’m just happy to be alive, to be honest,” Mazzio said.
Mazzio was directing traffic after a car accident in a residential neighborhood near the intersection of SE Felix Avenue and SE Southbend Boulevard.
He said he never saw the car that hit him.
“I hit the bumper, and the bumper cut my knee,” Mazzio said. “And I went on top of the car, on top of the windshield and flew into the swale.”
Police Tuesday released bodycam video of the incident.
Mazzio’s body cam doesn’t show much, just one moment showing traffic and the next moment showing grass as Mazzio goes down.
Another officer’s body cam shows the officer recognizing that Mazzio had been hit and running toward him.
Mazzio can be heard screaming in pain as someone is yelling to call 911.
Mazzio said he had just watched the bodycam videos for the first time.
“Honestly, it brought a tear to my eye,” he said. “You watch it and just wish people could be a little bit more cautious.”
And that’s why Mazzio chose to tell his story to WPBF 25 News.
He wants to be a message to drivers: pay attention, especially in areas where people are working.
“Don’t rubberneck. Don’t be on your phone,” Mazzio said. “Don’t be distracted.”
Mazzio said his entire body still hurts even a week later.
He said doctors have not been able to diagnose all of his injuries and have not been able to say when or even if he’ll return to work.
Mazzio has been a police officer for more than 20 years and said he’s saved a few lives in that time.
He wondered if maybe that’s why he’s still around today.
“Maybe this is the angels or the people coming back. It’s not my time,” Mazzio said. “It’s just not my time.”
The identity of the driver who hit Mazzio has not been released.
That driver has not been charged with a crime, though police said their investigation is ongoing.