By Jonnelle Marte
The Miami Herald
MIAMI — A Miami police officer was slightly injured Sunday after a car exploded while he was checking for victims of a two-car collision.
At around 4 p.m. Sunday, Angela Reyes, 41, was driving northbound in a Mitsubishi Montero on Northwest 12th Avenue when she tried to make a left turn onto Northwest First Street.
Reyes collided with Martha Ransom, 45, who was heading south on Northwest 12th Avenue in a Mustang convertible, police said.
“The Mustang T-boned the Montero, causing the Montero to flip over and as a result a small fire began on the SUV,” said Ignatius Carroll Jr., a spokesman for city of Miami Fire Rescue.
“Several bystanders who saw what happened helped these two ladies out of the cars and walked them a few blocks away to safety,” Carroll said.
When fire rescue officers arrived, the tires of the SUV suddenly exploded and debris flew in different directions, striking Officer Yader Somarriba, who was looking for possible victims.
Somarriba suffered minor injuries, was treated on the scene and continued handling the case.
“He’s going to be fine,” Carroll said. “It shook him up a little bit.”
Fire rescue officers put out the fire and treated the drivers for minor injuries.
Copyright 2008 The Miami Herald