APOPKA, Fla. — Investigators with the Florida Highway Patrol say a man died after being run over by an Apopka Police cruiser Tuesday night.
- No information released about possible other vehicle
- Pedestrian was identified as Degoberto Casraneda of Orlando
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At about 9:30 p.m., Officer Brian Kennedy was driving a 2016 Ford police cruiser northbound on Orange Blossom Trail in the left lane when a male pedestrian tried to cross near Bradshaw Road.
Witnesses told investigators that the man was lying in the roadway, not in a crosswalk or at an intersection, when he was struck. They said he appeared to have been struck by another vehicle when the police cruiser approached.
The 22-year-old officer was not able to avoid the man, and the cruiser ran over him, FHP said.
The pedestrian, later identified by troopers as Degoberto Casraneda of Orlando, was taken to Advent Health Apopka, where he died. Troopers said relatives told them he was in his early 20s.
Troopers spent hours out Wednesday morning trying to figure out how the deadly crash happened. All lanes reopened on Orange Blossom Trail just before 6 a.m.
Lt. Kim Montes with FHP said a medical examiner's report will be key in the investigation.
"This is not a typical pedestrian crash where we have a car that has a smashed windshield and other damage. So we have to look at everything to make a final determination on what occurred.” Montes explained.
According to FHP, the Apopka Police Department and Kennedy are both fully cooperating. Troopers say they don't believe Kennedy is at fault.
“It’s dark up there, he is laying in the roadway, (and) vthere is no way this officer could have avoided this man lying in the Northbound lanes of OBT," Lt. Montes said. "The officer gave us a statement, we have his patrol car, we have downloaded the video. We are going to look at the speed of his vehicle, which we don’t believe speed is a factor.”
Apopka Police Department in a media release said based on FHP's preliminary investigation, Kennedy will remain on duty, and that it doesn't appear the officer violated any city or police department policies.
The department also said it "extends its condolences" to Casraneda's family.
No details have been released about the possible other vehicle.
Reporter Erin Murray contributed to this story.