GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Clay County Sheriff's Office announced in a press conference Aug. 22 that the deputy involved in a weekend motorcycle accident has died.
Ben Zirbel, 40, a 12-year veteran of the CCCSO, died 3 days after he was involved in an accident while on duty riding his motorcycle.
“It is very unfortunate that I have a guy who’s traveling down the street enforcing traffic laws and fell victim to those laws that he was sworn to enforce,” Sheriff Darryl Daniels said during the conference.
Zirbel was traveling southbound on Blanding Boulevard when a truck pulling a trailer pulled out in front on his motorcycle around 10:55 a.m. Zirbel crashed into the trailer and was thrown from the motorcycle.
There is no word yet that the driver of the truck, Stephen M. Schioppa, 35, of Orange Park, is going to be charged. The Florida Highway Patrol said Schioppa was in the left turn lane of the intersection heading northbound and attempting to turn on to Camp Francis Johnson Road.
“Ben died doing what he enjoyed doing, being on that motorcycle. He enjoyed being a law enforcement officer, he enjoyed working for the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and he enjoyed what he was doing,” Daniels said.
Zirbel’s wife, Anna, thanked the community for the outpouring of support their family has received since the accident.
“My son, my family and I want to thank everyone in this community for their love and their support over the past few days. It has meant so much to us,” she said.
She spoke about Ben’s passion for helping others and why this was the reason that he joined law enforcement. She also said that, even in death, he will continue to help others as he did in life.
“Ben was a registered organ donor and it gives me some comfort to say with his death he may be helping save the lives of at least 7 other individuals with his organs,” she said.
She said he may help hundreds of other people with tissue donations.
A spokesperson for the Florida Highway Patrol said the agency is still investigating the crash but did not give a timetable for when the investigation will conclude.
There are reports that Schioppa has received death threats on social media. Daniels said such behavior does not help the investigation or anyone else. He added that Deputy Zirbel would not have wanted this.
Zirbel’s wife said that he left a lasting impression on everyone and will be missed.
“But we know his kindness and his big heart will live in all of us,” she said.
Gov. Rick Scott ordered flags at government buildings to fly at half-staff in honor of Zirbel’s passing.
He directed the flags of the United States and the State of Florida to be flown at half-staff at the Clay County Courthouse and city hall in Green Cove Springs and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the State Capitol in Tallahassee from sunrise to sunset on Aug. 25.
“My wife, Ann, and I are heartbroken to learn of the loss of Deputy Ben Zirbel. Our brave men and women in uniform put themselves in danger every day to keep our communities safe and we will always be grateful for their sacrifices. I encourage all Floridians to join us in praying for Deputy Zirbel’s loved ones and the entire Clay County law enforcement community,” Scott said in a prepared statement.
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam also issued statements giving their condolences to the Zirebl family.
There is a VyStar Credit Union account set up for Zirbel and his family. The account number is 7507565803 and donations can be made at any VyStar location. There is also a GoFundMe page that was created for the family and can be found HERE.