30-year-old Fort Lauderdale detective dies in Coral Springs crash

Authorities suspect alcohol, speed caused woman to hit car

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. ā€“ Fort Lauderdale detective Christopher Sheehan was driving a 1995 Jeep Wrangler when he died Saturday morning in Coral Springs, police said.Ā 

Joselyn Lopez, 29, was behind the wheel of the 2010 Dodge Challenger that plowed into his Jeep. Ā 

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Sheehan, 30, of Fort Lauderdale, died at the scene of the crash, police said. He was a seven year veteran of the department.Ā 

"Preliminary investigation indicates that speed and alcohol may have been contributing factors," Coral Springs police officer Tyler Reik said in a statement.Ā 

The two were traveling northbound on State Road 7 whenĀ Lopez rear-ended the Jeep at the intersection of Wiles Road, according to investigators.Ā 

Jacob Snowhite, 41, of Jupiter, was a passenger in Sheehan's Jeep, Reik said. Fire rescue took him to Northwest Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries, police said.Ā 

Lopez, of Margate, did not suffer any injuries, Reik said.Ā 

"As you are aware, this is an on-going investigation by the Coral Springs Police Department," Capt. Frank Sousa of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department said in a statement. "As such, we will have no further comment at this time.Ā  We ask that you please respect Detective Christopher Sheehanā€™s family and our agency during this difficult and grieving moment."

Police were investigating the crash. Reik was asking anyone with information to call police officer Derek FernandesĀ at 954-346-1754.


About the Author:

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.