Clay County deputy critically hurt in motorcycle crash, officials say

🚨 We would like to invite our community to Deputy Zirbel‘s procession tomorrow, Friday, August 24th. Our members, assisted by several other agencies, will be leaving Jacksonville, heading toward Green Cove Springs, around lunchtime (exact time to be determined). The route will be I-295 to Blanding Blvd. south. We will then travel Blanding Blvd., making a left on Baxley Rd. We will turn left on County Road 220, then right on Henley Rd. When in Lake Asbury we will turn left onto Sandridge Rd. and travel to 2335 Sandridge Rd. (Russell Haven of Rest). This will be the only procession for Deputy Zirbel, so roadside attendance would be an honor if you can make it. 🚨 Funeral arrangements for Deputy Ben Zirbel are as follows: DATE/TIME: Saturday, August 25, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. LOCATION: St. Luke’s Catholic Church, located at 1606 Blanding Boulevard, Middleburg, Florida 32068. There will not be a viewing or graveside service. The Honor Guard ceremony will take place immediately after the church service in the parking lot. All media personnel are invited inside for the funeral service, though standing/filming inside the church will be limited to a select few at the family’s discretion. The funeral will also be open to the public; however, there will be very limited seating. Once again, we want to say thank you for the thousands of comments to us. We can’t respond to them all; however, we are reading them. Your interactions with us, including donations to the family, have us awestruck. #CCSOFL 🚨 Please see our Media Conference from 8.22.2018, 1PM: It is with deepest regret that Sheriff Darryl Daniels announces the death of Deputy Sheriff Ben Zirbel. Deputy Zirbel died from injuries he sustained from a traffic crash on August 19, 2018. The funeral services have not been finalized and will be forthcoming. #CCSOFL -UPDATE 8.21.18, 9 AM: Deputy Ben Zirbel is still listed as critical. That said, we continue to covet your prayers for peace and comfort. During this time, the community has reached out about donating to the Zirbel family. With that, they have two, family approved, ways to donate; therefore, we direct you to their established accounts: •VyStar Credit Union account:(#7507565803). •GoFundMe account:(www.gofundme.com/deputy-ben-zirbel-family&rcid=r01-153483465213-418644d6ff924f4c&pc=ot_co_campmgmt_m). As overwhelming support continues to pour in, we want to truly say thank you. #CCSOFL NEWS UPDATE 8.20.18, 4 PM: Traffic deputy Ben Zirbel is still in critical condition. That said, many friends of our community have reached out about donating to Deputy Zirbel’s family, so a secure VyStar Credit Union account has been established. Should you be interested in donating directly to them please use VyStar account number 7507565803. As overwhelming support continues to flood our agency, our members and Deputy Zirbel’s family want to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts. #CCSOFL -NEWS UPDATE 8.20.18, 9 AM: Traffic deputy Ben Zirbel, a 12 year veteran of our agency, is still in critical condition after yesterday’s traffic crash that occurred while on his sheriff’s office motorcycle. As overwhelming support continues to flood our agency, our members, and Deputy Zirbel’s family, want to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Further updates and information to come: #CCSOFL -NEWS UPDATE 8.19.18, 5PM: Traffic deputy Ben Zirbel, a 12 year veteran of our agency, was involved in a serious crash earlier today, while on duty, riding his sheriff’s office motorcycle. A vehicle pulling a utility trailer turned in front of Deputy Zirbel, causing a collision that has left him in critical condition. The other driver is uninjured and has been very cooperative. Florida Highway Patrol has assumed the investigation and we are working closely with them. On behalf of our members, and Deputy Zirbel’s family, we say thank you for the incredible support of our community. With thousands of messages being sent, we cannot respond to them all, but we appreciate every one of you, from the bottom of our hearts as we pray for all those involved. #CCSOFL -Media Conference 8.19.2018, 2:15 PM: There was a serious traffic crash near Blanding Blvd. at Camp Francis Johnson Road just before noon. This incident involved one of our Traffic deputies who was on his sheriff’s office motorcycle. He is currently in critical condition. Florida Highway Patrol will be assuming the investigation, but you can follow us here for updates as they are obtained. Please watch our live feed below:

Posted by Clay County Sheriff's Office, Florida on Sunday, August 19, 2018