Exclusive: Wife of driver deemed responsible in Clay deputy crash speaking out

ORIGINAL STORY: Clay County deputy critically hurt in motorcycle crash, officials say

The wife of the man involved in a serious crash that sent a Clay County deputy to the hospital in critical condition says her husband wishes he could trade places with the deputy.

Florida Highway Patrol tells Action News Jax that Stephen Schioppa, 35 of Orange Park, was making a left turn on to Camp Francis Johnson Road from Blanding Boulevard Sunday.

Troopers say his Dodge Dakota had a trailer with lawn equipment in tow when he pulled out in front of Clay County Deputy Ben Zirbel’s motorcycle.

The deputy's motorbike struck the side of the trailer, ejecting him, troopers said.

In an Action News Jax exclusive, Stephen Schioppa's wife spoke out about the crash, saying she and her husband are praying the deputy pulls through. We agreed to conceal her identity.

“He just really wants to take places with him,” she said. “We’re praying for him and the family.”

We asked if her husband had given her an account of what happened.

“No,” she said tearfully. “I’m so sorry to the family.”

Lisa Shears tells Action News Jax she approached the intersection just after the crash happened. She made a tearful plea to drivers to be on the lookout for motorcyclists.

“My brother he rides bikes, and like, the first person I called was him, and I didn’t know if anything happened to him or somebody I knew,” she said.

GALLERY: Clay County deputy critically hurt in motorcycle crash, officials say

She tells Action News Jax she saw someone badly injured in the road, and wreckage strewn about the intersection.

“Whether it happened to somebody I knew or not I knew it was bad,” she said.

Other drivers like mother Merecedes Loyete say they’re concerned by the driving habits they’ve witnessed on Blanding.

“So I always think about, like seriously? I have a baby in the car,” said Loyete.

At last word FHP master sergeant Dylan Bryan says the deputy is still in critical condition.

“You could hurt somebody’s family, even take them away from their family,” said Loyete.

Cox Media Group