Clay County fire lieutenant run over at bar; Jacksonville firefighter, 2 others arrested

A Jacksonville firefighter and two other men are facing charges after a fire lieutenant was run over in the parking lot of a Clay County bar.

John Taylor, a Clay County fire lieutenant, is in the intensive care unit with a broken pelvis, legs and ribs.

According to deputies, he was run over by an F-250 in front of Dalton's Sports Grill on Blanding Boulevard Sept. 8.

Deputies were called to the bar at approximately 1:20 a.m. after reports of a crash involving serious bodily injury.

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Witnesses told deputies that Taylor got into an argument with Orange County firefighter Edward Negron, who was sitting in the back of a 2005 Ford F-250 crew cab.

Negron, 51, punched Taylor in the face as the truck began to back up, witnesses said.

Taylor tried to hit him back as the driver of the truck, Robert Hood, pulled away. Taylor fell from the truck and was run over by the left rear tire, the police report says.

Hood drove toward the parking lot exit and a witness told him he ran over Taylor.

Todd Hardin, a Jacksonville firefighter, was in the passenger seat and told Hood to, "Go, go go," according to the report.

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Hood left the scene of the crash and was stopped by a Clay County deputy on County Road 215.

No one inside the truck called 911 to report the crash, the report said.

Hood, 26, is charged with leaving the scene of a crash. Hardin, 43, is charged with accessory after the fact. He's been reassigned at Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department during the investigation.

Negron is charged with battery and accessory after the fact. He's been suspended with pay from the Orange County Fire Department.

A GoFundMe page for Taylor's medical bills says he has massive injuries.

His friend Troy Alward said when he was brought to the hospital, doctors told his wife he had a 50 percent chance of living.

More than $10,500 has been raised for his family and an event next week aims to raise more.

A benefit concert will be held for Taylor on Sept. 30 at Dalton's Sports Grill. It starts at noon and will include raffles, giveaways and donations.

Cox Media Group