Authorities in Hialeah said no preferential medical treatment was given to an officer who was involved in a crash that killed a woman last week.
"Every patient on that scene was treated appropriately, expeditiously and sent in a timely manner to the appropriate facility," Hialeah Fire Capt. Cesar Espinosa said at a news conference Tuesday.
Authorities held the news conference to discuss the Friday night crash that killed 21-year-old Andrea Castillo, the daughter of newly-elected Miami-Dade School Board member Susie Castillo.
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Also injured in the crash were Andrea Castillo's boyfriend, Marco Barrios, and a a Hialeah Police officer.
Hialeah Police said Barrios and Castillo were traveling north on 9th Court in an SUV when they collided with the unmarked police car being driven by the on-duty officer who was traveling eastbound on E. 49th Street.
At Tuesday's news conference, Hialeah Police spokesman Carl Zogby said the couple was not wearing seatbelts and they ran a stop sign.
"It is apparent in this investigation thus far, that the driver Marco Barrios violated this stop sign and proceeded through the intersection," Zogby said.
Zogby said that police believe speed wasn't a factor for either of the drivers.
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At a separate news conference Tuesday, Jorge Silva, the attorney for the Castillo family, disputed the police account of the crash, saying speed was a factor and that there is evidence that both Castillo and Barrios were wearing seatbelts.
Silva also again raised questions as to why the officer was airlifted to the hospital while Castillo was taken by ambulance.
"The officer's injuries neither at the scene, in the hospital or at any point in time were anywhere near Andrea's injuries," Silva said.
He added that his office is performing their own investigation and will proceed with legal action after the investigation is complete.
Castillo was declared brain dead on Sunday and was being kept alive to preserve her organs for donation, Silva said. Barrios' condition is unknown.
Zogby said the officer underwent surgery and is still recovering.
"Our hearts go out for Andrea Castillo, we couldn't even begin to understand what her family is going through at this time and we regret this," Zogby said. "Our hearts also go out for our officer who is also a family man who has a long and painful recovery ahead of them."
