RSSPembroke Pines Officer Involved in Fatal Crash
Early on Thursday, January 28th, 2016, a woman was killed in a crash that occurred on Pines Boulevard and 114th avenue in Pembroke Pines. The woman, 24-year-old Jessica Lee Bonilla of Miami Lakes, ran a red light at the intersection and entered the path of a Pembroke Pines officer’s eastbound Chevy Tahoe police SUV. The officer involved was identified as night shift Officer Olayemi Okegbola, who was not currently on his way to a call when the incident occurred.
According to Pembroke Pines Police Captain Al Xiques, the crash was reported to have occurred around 2:15 a.m. that Thursday morning. According to six different witnesses, Bonilla’s gray 2012 Infiniti was traveling southbound when it drove through a solid red light and was struck by officer Okegbola’s vehicle. The witness reports, five of which came independently of one another, all place the fault squarely on Bonilla.
After the accident, Pines Boulevard was closed to both eastbound and westbound traffic temporarily. Around 8:15 a.m., the road re-opened to westbound traffic, then to eastbound traffic around 9 a.m.
Both the young woman and the officer were taken to Memorial Regional Hospital for their injuries, but Okegbola’s injuries were not life threatening. Jessica Lee Bonilla was pronounced dead by hospital staff around 5:30 a.m., while Officer Okegbola has since recovered.
Police Captain Xiques has stated that information from the scene implicates potential alcohol involvement as a contributing factor to the incident. He clarified, however, that regardless of initial appearances, the investigation is still ongoing.
When you or a loved one are involved in a serious car accident, you may find yourself dealing with growing medical bills on top of significant emotional and financial stress. If you believe someone else is at fault in causing the crash, you may be entitled to appropriate compensation. Since 1977, the Law Offices of James O. Cunningham, P.A. has been supporting and representing victims of serious accidents, allowing them to focus on recovery and family during a stressful time. Contact us today at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587) to set up a free consultation to discuss your case.
James O. Cunningham
Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.
Mr. Cunningham is an excellent and knowledgeable attorney.