A Miami police officer was injured in a crash at an intersection just off 7th Avenue in Little Havana. The collision left the officer's patrol cruiser badly damaged, with the vehicle struck on the driver's side. It happened at a busy corner, and crews spent part of the morning working at the scene before beginning to break it down.
Freeing the officer was not simple. Rescue crews had to cut him out of the car through extrication, with the top of the cruiser apparently removed in order to reach him. Once he was out, he was taken to Ryder Trauma Center, arriving at the emergency room under a police escort that had been arranged to get him there quickly.
The early word on his condition offered some reassurance. Police said the officer is alert and conscious, even as they stressed that they had not yet determined the full extent of his injuries. His name had also not been released as the scene was still being worked through.
Questions remained about the other vehicle involved. It appeared to be a Ford Explorer SUV, but it was not clear who the other driver was. Officials had also not said whether that driver would face any charges, leaving key details of the crash open for now.
A witness described the moments right after the impact. He said people rushed over to try to help the officer, and that he himself got out of his car and called 911 straight away. The officer, he recalled, seemed to be in pain but managed to give him a thumbs up in thanks after he signalled that he was on the phone for help.
The focus then turned to clearing the site and finding answers. Crews moved to tow the other vehicle away before removing the officer's cruiser, which had been cut open during the rescue. With the wreckage being hauled off, investigators were left to work out what had caused the crash in the first place.