Orlando police release video of ‘illegal U-turn’ before crash that killed 92-year-old woman
ORLANDO, Fla. —
After months of requests from WESH 2 Investigates, the Orlando Police Department on Wednesday released new surveillance video from the investigation into the crash that killed a 92-year-old great-grandmother.
Chief Eric Smith said the video helps the community understand the circumstances surrounding this deadly crash.
“The delay in releasing the video was based solely on the requirements of Florida law and should not be interpreted as an effort to withhold information from the public,” Orlando police said. “With the investigation now complete, the department is releasing the footage to provide additional context, address concerns that have been raised, and ensure the public has the information necessary to understand what occurred.”
The video is from a 7-Eleven surveillance camera at the intersection of Semoran Boulevard and Hoffner Avenue.
Officer Andrew McKuhen said that while stopped at a red light on Hoffner, he then tried to initiate a traffic stop in the early morning of Jan. 18.
According to OPD investigators, the video shows a Jeep get in the left turn lane and make an illegal U-turn to head westbound on Hoffner.
The video also provides a new view of the T-bone crash.
Milagros Ortiz was in the passenger’s seat of the vehicle that McKuhen’s marked 2019 Ford Explorer struck in the middle of the intersection. She was headed home from her weekly bingo game.
Ortiz died the next day from her injuries in the hospital.
WESH 2 Investigates was first to obtain the clearer street camera video of the crash in June. It shows the police SUV’s lights go dark right before impact.
The investigation revealed the police vehicle had a documented history of issues with its lights and sirens.
The State Attorney’s Office in Orange County decided McKuhen’s driving wasn’t reckless enough to charge him with vehicular homicide, but the OPD internal investigation found he did violate the department’s safe driving policy.
“Although the lighting equipment may not have been functioning properly, Officer McKuhen is still responsible for operating his vehicle with due care,” the supervisor who recommended an 80-hour suspension wrote in a discipline memo.
Email records show McKuhen opted to give up 80 hours of personal leave.
Attorney Ben Crump is representing the Ortiz family. He’s filed a $92 million wrongful death lawsuit against the city.