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Lake County deputy hurt in hit and run Sara Clarke | Sentinel Staff Writer 1:47 PM EDT, August 3, 2008

Arturo Zapata

A Lake County sheriff's deputy was hurt in a hit-and-run crash early Sunday morning, authorities said.

Deputy John Caston, who was on duty at the time of the crash, suffered lacerations to his head and arms during the crash and was treated at Florida Hospital DeLand and later released, authorities said.

Caston reported that he had been involved in a crash at the intersection of Lake Street and Bouganvilla Avenue in Paisley at 2:17 a.m. Residents at the scene  told deputies that the driver who hit Caston had fled on foot.

Deputies said that a woman told them her boyfriend, Arturo Zapata, was driving the vehicle that hit the officer, and that he had run because he was scared. Bloodhounds tracked down Zapata, who was taken into custody. Authorities said Zapata is in the country illegally.