Palm Bay Police Officer, Elderly Man Injured In Crash

PALM BAY, Florida — A Palm Bay police officer suffered minor injuries following a vehicle crash Tuesday afternoon that also injured an elderly man.  

Palm Bay spokesperson Yvonne Martinez said in an email that the officer was traveling southbound on U.S. 1 after clearing a call just before 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday.  

According to multiple witnesses, the driver of a burgundy-colored 2010 Honda Accord attempted to turn on to Port Malabar Boulevard from northbound U.S. Highway 1 where he failed to yield the right of way and the officer could not avoid hitting the vehicle.  

The driver of the Honda Accord is identified as 86-year-old Festin Socrates.  He is being cited with careless driving and failure to yield right-of-way.  Martinez added that the officer is in good condition at the hospital and will be treated and released.  Mr. Socrates is in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries.  Both vehicles were totaled.