Update: Impairment contributes to Miami Gardens crash involving patrol SUV
MIAMI GARDENS, FL – Miami Gardens Police confirm that the driver of the black Dodge Charger was impaired when he ran a red light and hit an officer’s SUV Tuesday.
This collision happened before 2:45 a.m. at the Northwest 27th Avenue and Northwest 167th Street junction. Local 10 said that new video footage showcases that the Dodge driver, later identified as 36-year-old James Andrew Luis, was speeding when he ran a red light and t-boned the white Ford Explorer police SUV.
The impact of the collision led the police SUV to spin around several times before hitting some exterior walls and the Dodge to catch fire.
The officer and field training officer with them were trapped in their patrol vehicle, and Luis and the passengers with him were trapped in theirs. Everyone was extricated, although there was no mention of how long it took fire crews to extinguish the flames from the Charger.
Two occupants from the Dodge were transported via an ambulance to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center while the officer was airlifted to the same facility.
The officer sustained a severe shoulder injury and will require an operation. Despite his wounds, he is expected to be okay.
It is unclear what the current conditions of the other people are.
Luis was said to have had 162.9 grams of crack cocaine and 750 grams of marijuana. He was arrested and charged with driving under the influence and possession of crack cocaine.
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