Orlando officer ‘on duty’ during crash that killed 92-year-old

The Orlando police officer behind the wheel of a marked cruiser was “on duty” at the time of the crash that hospitalized a 92-year-old grandmother who later died, according to an Orlando city commissioner.Before Monday afternoon’s city council meeting, WESH 2 Investigates attempted to speak with Chief Eric Smith about the ongoing traffic homicide and internal affairs investigations. But Smith did not stop to answer questions as he tried to avoid the camera by entering the council chambers through a side door.Ortiz’s grieving daughters said the officer involved in the crash that killed their mother needs to be held accountable. “Just because you’re a police officer, that doesn’t allow you to just go and run a red light to do whatever it is that you’re doing,” Judy Santiago said. WESH 2 Investigates again emailed the Orlando police Public Information Office Monday morning to ask whether the officer involved in the crash was on or off duty. The two-word response the PIO sent at 12:12 p.m. said “active investigation.””Do you think it’s acceptable that when we’ve asked this question for a week, the agency has not answered us?” WESH 2 Investigates asked city of Orlando District 2 Commissioner Tony Ortiz. “I’m wondering why that miscommunication, and I’m trying to get to that,” Ortiz said. Ortiz said he spoke with Smith about the crash that happened in the early morning of Sunday, Jan. 18, at the intersection of Semoran Boulevard and Hoffner Avenue. “I went and asked him, because he’s he was busy. I was busy, so I asked him. I said, I just want one answer: was he on duty or not? And he replied, yes. He was on duty, yes,” Ortiz said.Ortiz said that while the Orlando Fire Department notified him about the two-car accident in his district, he learned through WESH 2 Investigates reporting that Millie Ortiz died after she was hospitalized. “I didn’t know there was a grandmother. I didn’t know her age, and their police officer had been involved,” he said.The initial Orlando police crash report, provided by Millie’s family, said the police cruiser was at fault “due to failure to yield right of way.”Jose Rodriguez told WESH 2 Investigates he was stopped next to the police cruiser on Hoffner Avenue, and he witnessed the vehicle enter the intersection while the traffic light was still red. “From what I saw, I saw that the bottom lights were on,” Rodriguez said of the police car. “He turned them all. He didn’t turn no sirens on or nothing. And he just started creeping out.”The District Nine Medical Examiner’s Office said Millie Ortiz “died from complications of multiple blunt force injuries to the torso.””We got to see her, and she was just, my chest pains. My chest hurts. My chest, she was – she was afraid,” Santiago said.While the medical examiner found the manner of her death to be an accident, State Attorney Monique Worrell explained last week what’s needed to prosecute a vehicular manslaughter case. “Essentially, it has to be more than an accident,” Worrell said. “There has to be a component of recklessness that’s involved.”High-profile civil rights Attorney Ben Crump announced Monday afternoon that he is now representing the family of Milagros Ortiz in a statement:“Ms. Millie Ortiz was a beloved matriarch and great-grandmother to 18 great-grandchildren. She was simply on her way home from bingo when her life was tragically cut short. Her family is shattered, and they deserve immediate, truthful answers about why this police cruiser ran a red light and how the officer responsible will be held accountable. We will say her name. We will demand transparency. And we will fight for justice for Millie and everyone who loved her.”The Orlando Police Department has not answered WESH 2 Investigates question about the status of the officer during the internal affairs investigation. He is identified in the initial crash report as 28-year-old Andrew McKuhen. Police have also said they’re not releasing any more information about this case to “preserve the integrity of the investigation.”

ORLANDO, Fla. —

The Orlando police officer behind the wheel of a marked cruiser was “on duty” at the time of the crash that hospitalized a 92-year-old grandmother who later died, according to an Orlando city commissioner.

Before Monday afternoon’s city council meeting, WESH 2 Investigates attempted to speak with Chief Eric Smith about the ongoing traffic homicide and internal affairs investigations.

But Smith did not stop to answer questions as he tried to avoid the camera by entering the council chambers through a side door.

Ortiz’s grieving daughters said the officer involved in the crash that killed their mother needs to be held accountable.

“Just because you’re a police officer, that doesn’t allow you to just go and run a red light to do whatever it is that you’re doing,” Judy Santiago said.

WESH 2 Investigates again emailed the Orlando police Public Information Office Monday morning to ask whether the officer involved in the crash was on or off duty.

The two-word response the PIO sent at 12:12 p.m. said “active investigation.”

“Do you think it’s acceptable that when we’ve asked this question for a week, the agency has not answered us?” WESH 2 Investigates asked city of Orlando District 2 Commissioner Tony Ortiz.

“I’m wondering why that miscommunication, and I’m trying to get to that,” Ortiz said.

Ortiz said he spoke with Smith about the crash that happened in the early morning of Sunday, Jan. 18, at the intersection of Semoran Boulevard and Hoffner Avenue.

“I went and asked him, because he’s he was busy. I was busy, so I asked him. I said, I just want one answer: was he on duty or not? And he replied, yes. He was on duty, yes,” Ortiz said.

Ortiz said that while the Orlando Fire Department notified him about the two-car accident in his district, he learned through WESH 2 Investigates reporting that Millie Ortiz died after she was hospitalized.

“I didn’t know there was a grandmother. I didn’t know her age, and their police officer had been involved,” he said.

The initial Orlando police crash report, provided by Millie’s family, said the police cruiser was at fault “due to failure to yield right of way.”

Jose Rodriguez told WESH 2 Investigates he was stopped next to the police cruiser on Hoffner Avenue, and he witnessed the vehicle enter the intersection while the traffic light was still red.

“From what I saw, I saw that the bottom lights were on,” Rodriguez said of the police car. “He turned them all. He didn’t turn no sirens on or nothing. And he just started creeping out.”

The District Nine Medical Examiner’s Office said Millie Ortiz “died from complications of multiple blunt force injuries to the torso.”

“We got to see her, and she was just, my chest pains. My chest hurts. My chest, she was – she was afraid,” Santiago said.

While the medical examiner found the manner of her death to be an accident, State Attorney Monique Worrell explained last week what’s needed to prosecute a vehicular manslaughter case.

“Essentially, it has to be more than an accident,” Worrell said. “There has to be a component of recklessness that’s involved.”

High-profile civil rights Attorney Ben Crump announced Monday afternoon that he is now representing the family of Milagros Ortiz in a statement:

“Ms. Millie Ortiz was a beloved matriarch and great-grandmother to 18 great-grandchildren. She was simply on her way home from bingo when her life was tragically cut short. Her family is shattered, and they deserve immediate, truthful answers about why this police cruiser ran a red light and how the officer responsible will be held accountable. We will say her name. We will demand transparency. And we will fight for justice for Millie and everyone who loved her.”

The Orlando Police Department has not answered WESH 2 Investigates question about the status of the officer during the internal affairs investigation.

He is identified in the initial crash report as 28-year-old Andrew McKuhen.

Police have also said they’re not releasing any more information about this case to “preserve the integrity of the investigation.”