Homestead Man Killed In Crash With Police Cruiser

MIAMI, FL — A 45-year-old Homestead man was killed early Tuesday morning when his Nissan Altima collided with a police cruiser driven by two Miami-Dade police officers. The victim was identified as Emilio Jesus Vizcaino. The incident occurred shortly before 1:30 a.m. at SW 260 Street and SW 147 Avenue.

Both officers were airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center with non life-threatening injuries and released later in the day. The crash remains under investigation by the Miami-Dade Police Department Traffic Homicide Unit.

Detective Lee Cowart of the Miami-Dade Police Department did not identify the two officers involved but said that the driver was a 32-year-old police veteran with six years experience. His passenger was a 24-year-old rookie with three months on the job.

"The police vehicle was traveling west on SW 260 Street and the civilian vehicle was traveling south on SW 147 Avenue," Cowart explained. "At the intersection, the two vehicles collided and subsequently both vehicles came to rest on the southwest corner of the intersection."

Vizcaino of the 15200 block of SW 296 Street, was pronounced dead on the scene by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.

Cowart added that both police officers are assigned to the South District. The driver is a field training officer.

Photo by Paul Scicchitano