Florida

Miami-Dade Police Pursuit Ends in Fiery Crash, Officer Hurt

A Miami-Dade police cruiser in pursuit of a suspect was involved in a fiery three-car crash in Miami Gardens on Sunday morning that left an officer hospitalized.

Investigators say that the pursuit began as the result of an assault to a police officer that occurred on Northwest 119th Street and Northwest 7th Avenue.

The police cruiser was traveling southbound on Northwest 7th Avenue and a black Infiniti was traveling westbound on Northwest 171st Street when they collided. As a result of the crash, the police vehicle veered into a black Cadillac nearby.

The impact caused the police vehicle and the Cadillac to catch fire. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded and extinguished the flames.

The police officer was transported to Memorial Hospital, and the driver of the Infiniti to Jackson Memorial Hospital North. They were both listed in stable condition and the officer was released from the hospital Monday morning.

The suspect, later identified as 38-year-old Bradys Balcinde, was taken into custody without incident within blocks of the crash.

"Once the police unit and the other vehicle collided it redirected the police unit onto the vehicle that was parked and stationary at the light at that point both vehicles caught on fire," said Miami-Dade Police Detective Argemis Colome.

Balcindehas been charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and fleeing. Attorney information wasn't available.

This is a developing story; check back with NBC 6 for updates.

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