Miami-Dade K-9 officer is in critical condition after crash that shut down turnpike lanes
A Miami-Dade police officer was badly injured Wednesday following an afternoon crash on Florida’s Turnpike, according to authorities.
The officer was airlifted to Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, where Miami-Dade Police Director Freddy Ramirez said he was in critical but stable condition. His dog partner was taken to Knowles Animal Hospital with minor injuries, Ramirez added.
Narcotics officer Alexis Rodriguez, who has served the department for about 20 years, broke several bones but is expected to survive, a police source told the Miami Herald. Officials hadn’t released his name as of Wednesday night.
Investigators said it isn’t clear whether Rodriguez was on duty, Herald news partner CBS News Miami reported. He was in an unmarked SUV when the crash occurred, the TV station noted, adding that the vehicle had extensive damage to its windshield.
Authorities haven’t released additional information, including what caused the crash.
The multi-car accident that happened around 3:20 p.m. shut down the north and southbound lanes of Florida’s Turnpike near Southwest 216th Street as the rush hour started. Traffic was fully reopened hours after the crash.
This developing story will be updated.
This story was originally published August 10, 2022 at 4:35 PM.
