Orlando, FL : Two people injured in officer-involved crash on Orange Blossom Trail Thursday morning, May 12, 2016

Ocoee police say they believe a pursuit that ended with a serious crash on Orange Blossom Trail Thursday morning was justified.

The crash happened sometime before 5 a.m. at the intersection of Orange Blossom Trail and Holden Avenue in Orlando.

The crash seriously injured an innocent bystander and an Ocoee police officer. ?A spokesperson with Ocoee police says Officer Chris Bonner went into surgery Thursday afternoon after suffering serious injuries following a crash.

"He had some pretty extensive damage to his left side, his wrist his ankle, I believe his femur may be broken. So he has a long road to recovery," said Ocoee Police Department spokesman Lt. Mike Bryant.??

According to Ocoee police, Bonner, 29, was assisting Altamonte Springs police in pursuit of two armed robbery suspects.

The men ripped off a bar and took off in a dark colored Honda.?

Officer Bonner spotted the car and was traveling northbound on Orange Blossom Trail with emergency lights and siren activated, approaching the intersection, troopers said.

A Toyota Corolla driven by Yadira Montalvo, 26, of Orlando was traveling eastbound on Holden and had the green light. The two vehicles collided.

The police cruiser traveled off the roadway, striking a pole and fire hydrant.

Police stand by Bonner's decision, saying the two armed men posed a greater danger to the community.

Bryant says Florida Highway Patrol will ultimately determine if the high-speed pursuit was justified.

??"There will be an investigation here to see who did what wrong," said Bryant.

Lt. Bryant says Ocoee's police chief visited Montalvo to see how she was recovering. Right now we only know her injuries are serious.

Both the officer and the driver of the Toyota were taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center. Troopers said both are in serious but stable condition.

Orange Blossom Trail was shut down in both directions while law enforcement worked to clear the scene. Southbound lanes on OBT and two northbound lanes have since reopened.

Source :
FHP: 2 injured in officer-involved crash on OBT