ClickOrlando.com reported that a tragic accident in the Orlando area last week involved an Orlando Police officer and caused at least one injury.
According to spokespeople from the Orlando Police Department, an Orlando Police officer was traveling in an easterly direction on East Colonial Drive near its intersection with Hughey Drive, responding to an emergency call, around 4:00 p.m. on Monday. The marked police car had all emergency and visibility signals operational, including lights and sirens, according to OPD officials. The officer was passing through the intersection as a driver drove down the exit ramp from Interstate 4 and proceeded into the intersection, causing an unplanned high-energy kinetic interaction between the two vehicles.
Video from the accident scene was released, illustrating the damage to the front of the police cruiser involved in the wreck, as well as the civilian vehicle mounted on a tow truck. Both vehicles allegedly suffered heavy damage.
The driver of the civilian vehicle was taken to a local hospital; his injuries were not considered severe enough to be life-threatening. The police officer is apparently OK. The exit closed the Hughey Avenue southbound exit from I-4 for several hours as investigators worked the accident scene.