Two Miami Police officers were injured Wednesday after colliding with each other on the Dolphin Expressway, officials said.
The Miami Police Department confirmed both officers were left with minor injuries and expressed relief that neither was seriously hurt.
“This is definitely not the way we wanted to start the year, but I’m thankful that they’re both in good spirits and their injuries do not appear to be serious,” said Miami Police Chief Manny Morales.
The crash occurred while the officers were working a funeral escort detail. Morales explained that one officer accidentally collided with the other after a car tried to enter the procession in the westbound lanes.
“I know one of them is an over-10-year veteran, and one is just shy of 10 years, so they’re both experienced officers of the Miami Police Department,” Morales said. “It’s just a reminder of how dangerous the job is. These good folks go out there each and every day and try to keep the streets of Miami safe.”
Veteran officers acknowledge the risks of the motorcycle unit. “It’s not if you’re gonna crash, it’s when you’re gonna crash,” one motorman told NBC6.
Former Miami-Dade Police Director Juan Perez noted that, nationally, most police fatalities involve cars, but driving itself carries inherent dangers, particularly at high speeds responding to emergencies.
“So even in police vehicles, there’s an inherent danger just because of the fact that they’re spending 40-plus hours a week driving and at times, at high rates of speed trying to get to an emergency,” Perez said.
Perez emphasized the benefits of motorcycle units, noting that motormen provide crucial maneuverability in tight situations.
“There’s a lot of practical benefits to motorcycles in a police agency, but the inherent danger is something that we just can’t overcome,” he said.
The Miami Police Department has not released the names of the officers involved and confirmed there was no suspect; the incident is being investigated as an accident.
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