Viewing Held For Motorcycle Officer Killed In Crash
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Family and friends of a Miami police motorcycle officer who died in a traffic accident earlier this week gathered Thursday evening to remember him.
The viewing for Officer Jorge Sanchez was held Thursday at the Vior Funeral Home, at 291 NW 37th Avenue, from 7 p.m. to midnight.
Hundreds of officers from different police agencies showed up to pay their respects.
"The brotherhood of police officers is very strong but Jorge brings even that more out. There's people here from Broward County that probably never even met Jorge," said City of West Miami Police Dept. Chief Nelson Andreu.
Former City of Miami Police Chief Manuel Orosa, who was in attendance, says he worked with Sanchez for five years.
"Jorge was a big man but he was always soft-spoken, serious, funny at times, hard worker," said Orosa.
A funeral service will be held Friday morning at the Miami-Dade Auditorium at 10 a.m.
Sanchez, who was on his way to work Tuesday, was hit at the intersection of SW 137th Avenue and 8th Street.
"He was stopped at the intersection. He was rear-ended by a vehicle, an SUV," said Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Joe Sanchez.
Ronald Pla, 26, was heading east on SW 8th Street, somehow lost control of his white Infinity and slammed into Sanchez, according to Florida Highway Patrol investigators.
"All of a sudden the motorcyclist ends up almost hitting every car there, bouncing against the bar, the guardrail, and I saw the body flipping," said "David".
A dozen people were hurt in the crash. Five were taken to Kendall Regional Hospital, three were considered trauma alerts including Sanchez.
Arturo Boucugnani, who says his vehicle sustained the least amount of damage, was on his way to pick up his grandkids when the crash occurred. He's thankful he was not seriously injured.
"I was extremely scared. You don't expect a car to be tumbling in front of you," said Boucugnani.
Sanchez, a 21-year-veteran, was close to retirement. He leaves behind a fiancée and three children, the youngest just 7 years old.
