FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Surveillance video captured a violent crash involving two Fort Lauderdale police officers.
Investigators said the two crashed their cruisers into one another just after 3:30 Wednesday morning near the intersection of Las Olas Boulevard and Southwest 11th Avenue.
One of the police cars crashed into the Westside Market, while the other burst into flames. Remarkably, both officers were able to exit their vehicles with just minor injuries. These pictures show just how severe the damage to their units was.
“They are doing well. They are both out of the hospital and recovering well,” Fort Lauderdale police Chief Bill Schultz said.
Schultz said the officers were assisting Broward Sheriff’s deputies who were searching for a vehicle with a stolen license plate. In the video obtained, officers along with BSO appeared to be pursuing a vehicle through the intersection moments before the crash. But just how did that happen, and why?
“Is it a concern of yours that both of these officers ended up getting in this crash? This was a serious crash. Is that something that you are looking into?” Local 10 News reporter Roy Ramos asked.
Chief Schultz responded: “So all of our crashes are looked into, and we will review everything and we will see what happened with that.”
Ultimately, deputies arrested 17-year-old Jayden Ruiz and a 14-year-old boy, who they said were in the stolen car.
“First things first, I’m thinking about the police officer and are they okay,” the store owner said.
That concern prompted the police chief to make a stop the next morning.
“I just stopped by to thank the owner and her son because they were so sweet and nice with what they told the media throughout that time and caring so much about the officers,” Schultz said.
“The damage over here is material. A human being to me is more important,” the store owner added.
Both teens face charges of grand theft of a vehicle and resisting arrest. They have both been ordered to remain in detention for 21 days.
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