Initial reports of an SUV striking four officers were later corrected; investigators say video shows only two officers were injured in a collision.
MIAMI, Fla. — Two Miami police motorcycle officers were injured Wednesday morning on State Road 836 near LeJeune Road after a crash that closed several westbound lanes, authorities said. The officers, both on department motorcycles, were taken to a hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening as traffic backed up through the mid-morning commute.
Police initially reported that four officers were struck by a black SUV that fled, sparking a search and public alerts. By Wednesday evening, the department walked back that account after reviewing roadway video. Officials said the footage showed two motormen were involved in a crash on the Dolphin Expressway, also known as the Dolphin, and that investigators were no longer seeking a vehicle or driver. The shift in details underscores how early reports can change as evidence is gathered and reviewed on a fast-moving highway scene.
The crash happened on SR 836 westbound around Northwest 42nd Avenue, a stretch that funnels traffic from central Miami toward the airport and the western suburbs. Three westbound lanes were closed for roughly two hours while medics treated the officers and crews moved damaged motorcycles from the shoulder. “It’s a reminder of how dangerous this job can be,” Police Chief Manny Morales said, noting the officers were working a detail when the crash occurred. One officer was treated for a shoulder injury and the other complained of back pain, according to officials briefed at the scene.
By midafternoon, investigators with the department’s traffic homicide and crash reconstruction units were reviewing video from motorists and nearby cameras to map the sequence of events. Officials said the SUV initially described in radio traffic was captured on video prior to the crash but did not cut off the officers, and no criminal hit-and-run investigation is underway. Both officers were described as veterans of the motor unit. Their names were not released pending family notifications. Paramedics transported them to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, where both were listed in stable condition, officials said.
The Dolphin Expressway—also marked as SR 836—has been the site of multiple high-profile law enforcement crashes over the years, reflecting the volume and speed of corridor traffic. Motormen often work escorts and traffic control on the highway system, which can leave officers exposed to sudden lane shifts by drivers. Wednesday’s crash occurred near an interchange where lanes split for Northwest 57th Avenue and LeJeune Road, a location with frequent merges and heavy morning congestion. In a separate safety push last year, agencies emphasized that Florida’s move-over law applies to motorcycles performing official duties, though compliance remains uneven in dense traffic.
Detectives said the department’s internal crash review will document scene measurements, motorcycle damage and rider statements, along with the video that prompted the correction to the initial account. No citations had been issued as of Wednesday night. Officials said an update on the officers’ conditions and any findings from the reconstruction analysis is expected after preliminary reports are completed. Westbound lanes fully reopened before noon, and the agency said any additional road closures for follow-up work would be announced in advance if needed.
Drivers in the area reported a sudden slowdown just west of the LeJeune exit as police diverted traffic to the right lanes and staged fire-rescue units on the shoulder. “You could see two bikes down and a lot of debris,” said Michael Alvarez, who was headed to Miami International Airport around 9:15 a.m. “Officers were waving us through one lane at a time.” Several members of the department’s motor unit arrived to load the damaged motorcycles onto a trailer as investigators marked skid paths with yellow paint and photographed the scene.
As of late Wednesday, both officers remained in stable condition and were expected to recover, according to a department update. Investigators plan to finalize their preliminary reconstruction and determine whether any citations are warranted by Friday, Jan. 9. The department said further information would be released once family notifications and internal reports are complete.
Author note: Last updated January 8, 2026.