CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – A clash between two 37-year-old pick-up truck drivers, left one dead in Coral Springs.
During the stress of the morning rush hour, Paul Peterman was on his way to work and Joshua Tullis was on his way home. The interaction they had when the two stopped on the side of the road left Peterman wounded.
Tullis has saved lives as a firefighter and paramedic for the Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue. But on Saturday he was the subject of an investigation in the death of Peterman, who was legally deaf.
Tullis' attorney, Eric Schwartzreich, said he gave police a two-minute video of their encounter. The video, Schwartzreich claims, shows Peterman diving full-body into Tullis' car.
Sgt. Carla Kmiotek said Peterman suffered head injuries. But instead of helping Peterman, the paramedic left him on the side of the road at West Atlantic Boulevard and Riverside Drive.
After several 911 calls, police found Peterman on the road unconscious and rescue airlifted him to Broward Health North. Tullis contacted police hours after Peterman died at the hospital.
Schwartzreich said the paramedic was afraid of Peterman. Witnesses told police they saw Peterman get out of his car to confront Tullis.
Tullis did what he could to get away from danger, Scwartzreich said. Detectives were waiting for the results of the autopsy. And as of Saturday, Tullis wasn't facing any criminal charges.