Police Crash Kills 2, Injures 5 In Florida Panhandle

SNEADS, Fla. -- Two people were killed when a police cruiser in pursuit of another vehicle collided with van in an intersection of this north Florida town, troopers said. Five people, including the officer, were injured.

Sneads Police Officer Andrew Blount saw an oncoming car commit a traffic violation on U.S. 90 Friday night, according to a report by the Florida Highway Patrol. He turned around and pursued the car with his blue lights flashing.

Charles Edward Minor, of Miami, was driving a van on River Road, which intersects with U.S. 90. At the intersection, River Road has a stop sign and a flashing red light and U.S. 90 has a flashing yellow light.

Blount swerved his cruiser to avoid the 2003 Dodge Caravan, but the right side of his car struck the left side of the van.

The van rolled, killing passengers Nathaniel Koonce Sr., 70, of Sneads and Laverne Nieves, 63, of Miami.

Minor was seriously injured. Another Miami man and two Sneads women in the van were injured and Blount suffered minor injuries.

Alcohol was believed to be a factor, according to the accident report. It's not known whether Minor stopped at the intersection. No charges had been filed, pending the result of the investigation.