Only in Florida: Police car hits two officers

TAMPA, Fla. — October 12, 2026 — An unusual police operation in Tampa ended with three people hospitalized after a patrol vehicle accidentally struck two officers and the suspect they were attempting to arrest.

The incident happened Monday in the 2300 block of East Busch Avenue during an ongoing narcotics investigation conducted by the Tampa Police Department’s Opioid Taskforce.

According to police, officers were serving an arrest warrant when the suspect attempted to flee.

Officers pursued the individual and ordered him to get on the ground. As they worked to take the suspect into custody, another officer arrived at the scene in a police vehicle.

But what happened next took an unexpected turn.

Police say the responding officer drove into the parking lot and accidentally struck both officers and the suspect while they were on the ground.

Three People Taken to Hospital

Emergency assistance was provided following the collision, and the two injured officers and the suspect were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Fortunately, authorities confirmed that none of the three sustained life-threatening injuries.

The Tampa Police Department has not publicly identified the officers or the suspect involved in the incident.

How Did the Accident Happen?

The circumstances surrounding the collision remain under investigation.

Authorities have not explained what caused the responding officer to strike the individuals or whether any additional action will be taken following the review.

The department also has not released further details about the original arrest warrant or the narcotics investigation that brought officers to the location.

The unusual incident has drawn attention because the people injured were both the officers carrying out the arrest and the individual they were attempting to detain.

Investigation Continues

Tampa police confirmed that the collision is being reviewed as part of an active investigation.

For now, the department has reported that all three injured individuals survived the crash and that their injuries were not considered life-threatening.

Further information about the accident and the circumstances leading to it may be released as the investigation progresses.