Apopka police officer, 12-year-old injured after being hit head-on by wrong-way driver, FHP says

Police car carrying child hit head-on

An Apopka police officer and a 12-year-old were injured in an early Thursday morning head-on crash, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

APOPKA, Fla. - An Apopka police officer and a 12-year-old were injured in an early Thursday morning head-on crash, according to Florida Highway Patrol (FHP).

Around 12:54 a.m., the officer was transporting a 12-year-old girl to a mental health treatment facility when a person traveling the wrong way in a Nissan Sentra crashed into them head-on on State Road 436, west of Semoran Commerce Place, according to police.

"We're not exactly sure what caused him to go in the opposite lane," said FHP Trooper Migdalisis Garcia. "However, we are doing every investigation in reference to possible DUI or if there was any impairment involved. We're working with the hospital to get that information as well."

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FHP investigators are also trying to find out whether speed may have contributed to the crash which happened in a 45 mph zone with three lanes headed in either direction.

The officer and the child were taken to Advent Health Apopka, where they remain in stable condition.

"They are injured, but it seems like it's non-life threatening for them," explained Trooper Garcia.

The Nissan driver was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center in critical condition.

"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," Police Chief Mike McKinley said in a statement. "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."

Police said the patrol car involved in the crash was not equipped with a dash camera.