A Winter Haven police officer and a 21-year-old man are recovering from serious injuries following a violent two-vehicle collision. The Florida Highway Patrol reports the incident occurred earlier yesterday at the intersection of Cypress Gardens Boulevard and 1st Street South, according to Tampa Free Press.
The 23-year-old officer was responding to a report of a "possible armed disturbance" when his marked Chevy Tahoe was struck by a Honda Accord driven by the 21-year-old Winter Haven resident. The crash happened around 2:20 a.m. as the officer traveled eastbound with emergency lights and sirens, said Winter Haven Police Department, as reported by WFLA. The Honda was reportedly speeding through the intersection, causing both vehicles to go off the road and into the parking lot of a nearby coffee shop.
Both the officer and the Accord's driver sustained serious injuries during the crash. The officer was taken by ambulance to Lakeland Regional Health, while the 21-year-old man required airlift transportation to the same hospital, FOX 13 News reported. Details on the nature or extent of their injuries have not been disclosed.
Charges are pending against the driver of the Honda Accord, according to the FHP. The exact circumstances leading up to the crash remain under investigation, and not much else is known at this time, the Florida Highway Patrol is said, as per Tampa Free Press. This incident serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers law enforcement officers face even while en route to emergency calls.
