Deputy killed by wrong way driver

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Deputy John Robert Kotfila Jr, was killed in a wrong-way crash on the Selmon Expressway, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said.

The crash happened Saturday around 3 a.m. on the east end of the expressway.

According to investigators, Erik McBeth, 31, entered the expressway going the wrong way on the Brandon Town Center ramp. That’s when they say McBeth collided with a patrol car driven by Deputy John Robert Kotfila Jr, 30.

The deputy was on his way back to the District 4 station after working another traffic crash.

McBeth died at the scene of the crash.

Investigators say the top of the patrol car was cut off to extract Kotfila. He was taken to Tampa General Hospital in serious condition, but later died.

Investigators say it’s too early to determine if alcohol was a factor in the crash.