BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. — An early morning crash occurred at the intersection of Hypoluxo Road and Lawrence Road in Boynton Beach, resulting in the tragic death of a police officer from West Palm Beach.
The incident was reported around 2:30 a.m., and upon arriving at the scene, investigators discovered a marked West Palm Beach Police vehicle with a single occupant. The car caught fire following the collision, and the driver succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash.
Frank Adderley, West Palm Beach Police Chief, was contacted for an interview but declined, expressing his sadness over the loss and noting that the officer was well-known among colleagues.
The crash involved the West Palm Beach Police officer losing control of the marked squad car and colliding with a pole, causing the vehicle to burst into flames.
Witnesses in the area were deeply shocked by the severity of the accident. Stephanie Waites, a motorist from Boynton Beach, who was getting gas at a 7/11 convenience store near the intersection, expressed her grief and urged everyone to be cautious on the roads.
The impact of the collision was so intense that the police car was severely damaged, barely recognizable as a squad car, appearing as a flattened mass of steel.
The crash led to the destruction of traffic lights at the intersection, near Santaluces Community High School, resulting in the closure of the area for several hours while workers restored the damaged infrastructure.
Residents living near the crash scene expressed concern over the intersection’s safety, stating that accidents frequently occur there. Some suggested implementing speed bumps or other measures to address the recurring issue of reckless driving.
As of the time of reporting, the names of the officer who lost his life have not been released by either the West Palm Beach Police Department or the Boynton Beach Police Department.
Despite the tragedy, the flag at the West Palm Beach Police Department’s Banyan Boulevard location has not been lowered to half-staff.
The incident has raised calls from the local community for further safety measures to be put in place to prevent similar accidents in the future.
