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

Authorities suspect alcohol, speed caused woman to hit car

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

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

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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. 

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

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

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. 

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

"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.  We ask that you please respect Detective Christopher Sheehan’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 Fernandes 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.