Two Florida Highway Patrol troopers were injured on Monday when an SUV slammed into the scene of a roadside stop on the turnpike in Medley. Since the crash, investigators have identified the driver and said his license was suspended, and both troopers have been listed as stable after initially being taken to hospital with serious injuries. The Florida Highway Patrol says charges against the driver are pending.
The crash happened in the northbound lanes of the turnpike, near Northwest 74th Street in Medley. The location is on one of the area's main routes, and the collision unfolded during the morning while traffic was moving through the corridor. Authorities responded to treat the injured officers and to begin working out exactly how the crash had happened.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the sequence began with a vehicle that had broken down at the roadside with a flat tire. A patrol cruiser was parked behind that disabled vehicle, with its flashing lights on, in a standard step to secure the scene and protect the stranded vehicle. One trooper had been sitting inside the marked patrol car while the other was at the scene outside.
It was then that the SUV came through and struck the scene. Investigators say the driver should have moved over when he saw the flashing lights on the side of the turnpike, pointing to Florida's move over law, which requires drivers to shift away from stopped emergency vehicles. The force of the impact turned a routine roadside stop into a serious emergency for the officers who were there.
The two troopers were hurt in the collision. Sergeant Otano was thrown into the windshield and then onto the ground, and was airlifted to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital. Trooper Quinones was taken from the scene by ambulance. Officials said the two were extremely lucky to have survived the crash, given how it unfolded.
The driver of the SUV was identified by the Florida Highway Patrol as 28-year-old Yasmil Rodriguez Marino. Investigators said his license was suspended at the time and that he should not have been driving. According to the agency, charges against him are pending as the investigation continues.
Both troopers were later listed as stable, easing concern after the initial reports of serious injuries. Authorities used the crash to underline the purpose of the state's move over law, saying drivers are required to move over for a reason and that the situation should never have occurred. Further updates were expected as the investigation went on.