Miami Beach Officer Catapulted By Speeding BMW, Driver Shot

MIAMI BEACH, FL — A Miami Beach police officer was seriously injured on Sunday night when he was catapulted into the air by a speeding BMW as a fellow officer opened fire on the woman behind the wheel, striking her at least once. The driver, identified as 22-year-old Cariann Denise Hithon died of her injuries while the injured officer lost consciousness for a time. The incident occurred at 6:17 p.m. on a crowded holiday weekend in South Beach.

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Miami Beach Police Chief Daniel J. Oates said that the officer regained consciousness and was stable and alert on Sunday night. He was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center, where he was released on Monday morning.

"Obviously, we’re very, very concerned with him. I just came from the hospital along with quite a few members of the department to visit him," Oates told reporters. "He’s there with his parents. Again, he’s stable and alert but he’s being carefully evaluated because he lost consciousness. And we’re still uncertain about his internal injuries."

Oates did not release the name of the officer who fired at Hithon. The injured officer was later identified as David Cajuso.

"Obviously, the entire matter is under investigation but without question this car was traveling at a rate of speed, enough to throw the officer from the car and he suffered these injuries and lost consciousness," Oates explained.

The officer was struck in the 200 block of 12th Street as the woman apparently was attempting to flee multiple accidents. The first occurred on Ocean Drive when the woman apparently struck the first vehicle, possibly a truck. The woman then drove west on 12 Street where she struck a second vehicle, a BMW with two men inside — before striking the officer.

"The car entered the intersection through the red light and struck an occupied BMW," according to Oates. She then struck the officer near Lincoln Road.

"At that point shots were fired by another Miami beach officer, struck the car, and struck the female driver of the car," Oates said. " The car proceeded westbound on 12 street and struck a parked white, SUV Toyota."

Oates said that the officer who opened fire on the woman was to be placed on administrative leave pending the results of an internal investigation into the shooting. That investigation is being conducted by the Miami-Dade Police Department.

"It’s under investigation why he opened fire but we know he opened fire after the other officer was struck and thrown from the car," Oates added.

A passenger in the BMW was detained for questioning to determine his involvement, if any. He was identified by Miami-Dade police on Tuesday as 22-year-old Ryan Jerrell Lucas. Police did not say how he knew Hithon.

Miami Beach Police Chief Daniel J. Oates addresses reporters on Sunday night after one of his officers was struck by a speeding car and another opened fire on the driver. Photo and image courtesy Miami Beach Police Department.