Westbound SR 836 lanes near LeJeune Road reopened after investigators said no fleeing SUV is sought.
MIAMI, Fla. — Two Miami Police motorcycle officers were hospitalized Wednesday after a crash on the Dolphin Expressway that briefly shut multiple westbound lanes near Northwest 42nd Avenue, officials said. Later in the day, the department said video evidence prompted a correction to initial reports of an SUV striking four officers.
The midmorning wreck created heavy backups on one of Miami-Dade’s busiest corridors and set off a rapid search for a vehicle first believed to have cut off the officers. By evening, investigators said the footage they reviewed showed a collision involving the two motormen, not a hit-and-run. Both officers were reported in stable condition. The reversal left detectives focused on how the motorcycles came together in fast-moving traffic and what actions, if any, preceded the impact.
Traffic slowed to a crawl westbound on SR 836 as police diverted cars around the scene between LeJeune Road and Northwest 57th Avenue. Three lanes were closed while fire-rescue treated the riders and crews cleared the damaged bikes from the shoulder. “Our motor officers accept risks every day working these highways,” Police Chief Manny Morales said. He added that the morning’s events showed “how quickly conditions can change,” as units moved to reopen the corridor for commuters and airport traffic.
Crash reconstruction specialists documented skid marks, lane positions and debris fields and collected dashcam and driver cellphone videos. Investigators said the black SUV described in early radio traffic appeared nearby but did not force the officers into a lane change at the moment of impact. Names of the injured officers were withheld until relatives could be notified. Both were described as experienced motormen assigned to special details on major roadways. Officials said their injuries included shoulder and back trauma, and both were expected to recover at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
SR 836, known locally as the Dolphin, is a frequent site of high-speed merges and abrupt lane shifts that complicate police escorts and traffic control. Motor units often work funeral processions, VIP movements and incident response across the expressway network. Police safety campaigns have repeatedly stressed Florida’s move-over rules for motorists when approaching emergency vehicles, but enforcement during dense rush-hour conditions can be difficult. Wednesday’s wreck unfolded near an interchange where westbound lanes split, a location that regularly sees congestion and last-second maneuvers during the morning rush.
Officials said the department’s preliminary report will determine whether any citations are appropriate and whether policy changes are needed for highway details. As of Wednesday night, no charges had been filed, and investigators were still interviewing witnesses and reviewing additional video submissions. The agency said it would release further updates after internal reviews are complete and family notifications are finalized. All westbound lanes reopened before noon, and no additional closures were planned.
Motorists who passed the scene described officers waving traffic through a single lane as tow crews loaded the motorcycles. “It looked like it happened fast, with debris scattered close to the right shoulder,” said driver Teresa Mendez, who was commuting to Doral. By late morning, police had removed chalk and paint marks from the pavement, but fresh scrape lines were still visible near the gore point approaching the LeJeune exit.
As of late Wednesday, both officers remained stable and under observation. Investigators expect to compile initial findings and an incident summary by Friday, Jan. 9, with a fuller reconstruction to follow. The department said updates on the officers’ conditions and any policy recommendations would be released when available.
Author note: Last updated January 8, 2026.