RIVIERA BEACH, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2026 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A Riviera Beach police officer is being treated for serious injuries today after his patrol vehicle went airborne and crashed while he was responding to an emergency call Tuesday night. The incident occurred around 8:31 p.m. on Australian Avenue, just north of West 13th Street.
According to investigators from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Officer J. Daniels was traveling southbound in a 2021 Ford Explorer. The officer had his emergency lights and sirens activated at the time of the crash. As the patrol suv approached a railroad crossing in the outside lane, investigators say the officer failed to reduce his speed, causing the vehicle to launch into the air.
Investigators say that Daniels lost control of the Ford after it made contact with the roadway. The SUV veered off the road, drove onto the sidewalk, and struck a street light pole and a fence before finally slamming into a tree along the fence line.
Officer Daniels, who was listed as the sole occupant of the vehicle, was transported to St. Mary’s Medical Center with serious injuries. Authorities confirmed Wednesday that he is currently in stable condition. The crash remains under investigation by the PBSO Traffic Division.
