Family of 92-year-old killed in crash with OPD demands justice

As a grieving family says goodbye to their beloved 92-year-old matriarch, who died after a crash with an Orlando Police Department cruiser, their attorney Ben Crump is calling for transparency and accountability. “From everything that we understand from her children, her daughters and her son, their mother was full of life,” Crump said in an exclusive interview with WESH 2 Investigates on Monday.Over the weekend, a celebration of life was held for Ortiz before her burial Monday afternoon.”When I learned of this tragedy involving the tragic, unnecessary death of Millie Ortiz, I said, ‘We can’t let them sweep this under the rug,'” Crump said.While Orlando police say their Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating, Crump said there should be an independent investigation into the crash involving a marked OPD cruiser that hospitalized Ortiz in the early morning of Jan. 18.”Oftentimes, when you have people investigating themselves, it seems to be a hint of impropriety, just by the very nature that you’re investigating yourself,” Crump said.Orlando police have remained tight-lipped about what happened, citing the “active investigation.”Three hours after WESH 2 Investigates broke this story, following an interview with Ortiz’s daughters, Orlando police announced an internal investigation. “Never in a million years I would have thought it was a police officer that was going to hit her,” Evelyn Alicea said.One week ago, Chief Eric Smith avoided WESH 2’s camera outside council chambers at City Hall.”This family, this community should be given the truth,” Crump said. “That’s the very least that the Orlando Police Department should do. The very least.”The family said a friend was driving Ortiz home from their weekly bingo game.The initial OPD crash report, provided by Ortiz’s family, said the officer was at fault for failing to yield the right of way in the intersection of Semoran Boulevard and Hoffner Avenue.According to that report, there is video of the crash that corroborates a witness account. “We’ve heard from the witnesses thanks to the good reporting of WESH 2,” Crump said.Witness Jose Rodriguez told WESH 2 Investigates it appeared to him that the officer became impatient waiting at a red light in the left turn lane and then drove into the intersection. “She had to right away, and I really saw that he was going to hit her,” Rodriguez said. “I was like, he going to hit her? But he could have stopped.”That officer was on duty at the time, City Commissioner Tony Ortiz said. “I think this Orlando police officer should be held accountable, just as any other citizen would have been held accountable for violating the traffic safety rules,” Crump said.State Attorney Monique Worrell would not discuss the specifics of this case, but she explained that in order to bring a vehicular manslaughter charge, there needs to be a component of recklessness.

ORLANDO, Fla. —

As a grieving family says goodbye to their beloved 92-year-old matriarch, who died after a crash with an Orlando Police Department cruiser, their attorney Ben Crump is calling for transparency and accountability.

“From everything that we understand from her children, her daughters and her son, their mother was full of life,” Crump said in an exclusive interview with WESH 2 Investigates on Monday.

Over the weekend, a celebration of life was held for Ortiz before her burial Monday afternoon.

“When I learned of this tragedy involving the tragic, unnecessary death of Millie Ortiz, I said, ‘We can’t let them sweep this under the rug,'” Crump said.

While Orlando police say their Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating, Crump said there should be an independent investigation into the crash involving a marked OPD cruiser that hospitalized Ortiz in the early morning of Jan. 18.

“Oftentimes, when you have people investigating themselves, it seems to be a hint of impropriety, just by the very nature that you’re investigating yourself,” Crump said.

Orlando police have remained tight-lipped about what happened, citing the “active investigation.”

Three hours after WESH 2 Investigates broke this story, following an interview with Ortiz’s daughters, Orlando police announced an internal investigation.

“Never in a million years I would have thought it was a police officer that was going to hit her,” Evelyn Alicea said.

One week ago, Chief Eric Smith avoided WESH 2’s camera outside council chambers at City Hall.

“This family, this community should be given the truth,” Crump said. “That’s the very least that the Orlando Police Department should do. The very least.”

The family said a friend was driving Ortiz home from their weekly bingo game.

The initial OPD crash report, provided by Ortiz’s family, said the officer was at fault for failing to yield the right of way in the intersection of Semoran Boulevard and Hoffner Avenue.

According to that report, there is video of the crash that corroborates a witness account.

“We’ve heard from the witnesses thanks to the good reporting of WESH 2,” Crump said.

Witness Jose Rodriguez told WESH 2 Investigates it appeared to him that the officer became impatient waiting at a red light in the left turn lane and then drove into the intersection.

“She had to right away, and I really saw that he was going to hit her,” Rodriguez said. “I was like, he going to hit her? But he could have stopped.”

That officer was on duty at the time, City Commissioner Tony Ortiz said.

“I think this Orlando police officer should be held accountable, just as any other citizen would have been held accountable for violating the traffic safety rules,” Crump said.

State Attorney Monique Worrell would not discuss the specifics of this case, but she explained that in order to bring a vehicular manslaughter charge, there needs to be a component of recklessness.