Deputies Donate Lights to Homeless for Safety

Since the beginning of the year, 26 percent of the traffic incidents that resulted in injuries or fatalities in the area involved pedestrians or bicyclists, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

That area is heavily tracked by homeless passing through West Pasco.

This past March, a 44-year-old man stepped into the path of an SUV on U.S. 19 near Signal Cove Road. He was struck by the vehicle and later died of his injuries. It appeared he had been drinking.

Deputies made three stops in the area Thursday to hand out lights in Hudson. One was at the Holy Ground Shelter at 8835 Denton Ave. and the second was at the R.O.P.E. Center shelter at 14121 Water Tower Drive.

The third was the Abundant Communities to Share (ACTS) Resource Center at 12515 U.S. 19, right across from Walmart.

The area’s high traffic volume and the transient population concern deputies.

Chris Porterio and wife Maria Oquendo-Porterio received some of the lights. Porterio says he is now living in a home temporarily but has been homeless intermittently for about 5 years. He said his wife was recently hit while on her bike.

He expressed gratitude for the donation.

“This will probably save lives,” he said.

Deputies plan to review other locations where they will distribute lights.

Watch our video for Pasco Sheriff’s Lt. Jeff Peake’s explanation of the donation.