MIAMI – A Miami police officer was injured early Monday morning in a crash in the Wynwood arts district.
The crash, which was captured on surveillance video, happened at Northwest Second Avenue and Northwest 29th Street.
Miami police Officer Kenia Fallat said the officer, identified as Carlos Gomez, 26, was traveling south on Northwest Second Avenue when the police cruiser collided with a Mazda 6 at Northwest 29th Street.
The impact pushed the officer's cruiser into a building on the corner. The impact was so severe that pipe fittings on shelves on the other side of this concrete wall went flying.
Fallat said Gomez was on his way to a priority call at the time of the incident.
"The officer was unconscious at the time when the rest of the officers arrived to assist him," Fallat said. "He was trapped. We were able to get him out and transport him to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he continues in a critical state."
Fallat said Gomez suffered head and leg injuries and was listed in critical condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
The other driver, identified as Julio Jimenez, 47, was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police said he suffered a possible broken leg.
Police said the traffic lights at the intersection during the crash were in blinking mode, flashing yellow and flashing red.
They said it's unclear which driver was at fault.
"We are talking to possible witnesses in the area right now," Fallat said. "It's way too early to tell who was at fault."
Police said Gomez's father is a Miami-Dade police officer, making it a difficult Monday for both agencies. Gomez has been with the Miami Police Department for a year.
The other vehicle had several Uber decals on the windshield, but no one else was in the driver's car.
The Miami Police Department is holding an emergency blood drive Tuesday for Gomez and a Miami-Dade police officer who was injured in a motorcycle crash.
The blood drive will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in front of the Miami Police headquarters at 400 NW Second Ave.