An Apopka police officer, 22, and his passenger, a 12-year-old girl, are hospitalized in stable condition following a head-on collision with another vehicle, while the driver of the other vehicle is in critical condition.
On Thursday, December 14, at approximately 12:54 a.m., the police officer, en route to a treatment facility with the girl, was involved in a collision on State Road 436, west of Semoran Commerce Place.
According to Florida Highway Patrol, a 2012 Nissan Sentra was traveling eastbound on State Road 436 (Semoran Boulevard) east of Otter Lane in the inside lane. The marked Apopka Police Department patrol car was traveling westbound on State Road 436 (Semoran Boulevard) approaching Otter Lane in the inside lane. The Nissan Sentra failed to maintain its lane crossing the center line and collided head on with the patrol car.
The Apopka officer and passenger are currently in stable condition and remain hospitalized at AdventHealth Apopka for further testing. The driver of the other vehicle involved in the crash is in critical condition at Orlando Regional Medical Center.
“We are thankful that the injuries sustained by our officer and the passenger were not more severe. Despite the gravity of the situation, the potential outcomes could have been far more tragic. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to our officer, the passenger in the police vehicle, and the driver of the other involved vehicle during their recovery,” Apopka Police Chief Michael McKinley said in a statement.
The Apopka Police Department vehicle involved in the crash was not equipped with a dash camera, according to Apopka police. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
The Apopka Chief and The Planter are weekly community newspapers, independently owned and family operated, that have served the greater Apopka area in Central Florida since 1923 and 1965 respectively.
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