An Ocoee, Florida, police officer has been cited in connection with a more than 90 mph chase that ended with a crash, that injured another driver and sent her car spinning in a busy intersection.
OCOEE, Fla. — Troopers said Officer Chris Bonner failed to obey traffic laws and was at fault in the crash. They also said Bonner never stopped or slowed down.
WATCH: Ocoee police crash side angle | Officer crash front angle [Courtesy WFTV]
Police said Bonner was pursuing two armed robbery suspects. Records show that the chase reached speeds over 90 mph.
FHP troopers said Bonner's vehicle had it's emergency lights onand its siren activated when it struck a car driven by Yahaira Castro Montalvo, who had the green light.
Bonner lost control and her car struck a pole and a fire hydrant, the FHP said.
Video shows the suspects’ car blowing through the intersection about seven seconds before the crash.
Seconds after officers gave their location to dispatchers, video shows the lead Ocoee police car in the chase slowing down, but the second patrol car passes him.
It’s not known if the suspects ran a red light when they went through the intersection before the officers.
The crash sent debris flying all over the road and Montalvo’s car spinning several times.
Montalvo was taken to a nearby hospital with injuries to both arms.
Before investigators released the video, WFTV asked Ocoee police to explain how the crash happened.
Lt. Mike Bryant said Bonner followed Officer Jonathan Joseph through the intersection.
“He's within his policy, he's within his rights, to continue as the second car in that particular chase,” Bryant said.
But the new video shows Bonner blowing past Joseph’s stopped cruiser.
“We’re not supposed to blow through a red light, no," Bryant said last week. "The bad guy will blow through a red light. We’re supposed to pull up, let everyone know we’re coming (with sirens), and then we shoot through it."
Montalvo said she didn’t realize that she had been hit until she woke up in the hospital.
“The only car that I saw was the one that passed the red light before the officer hit me,” Montalvo said.
Bonner suffered a broken leg, wrist and ankle his mother said.
Another officer assisting in the chase stopped to help Montalvo and Bonner.
Bonner has been with the department for six years and has not had any work-related problems.
Cox Media Group
