There's an investigation developing into an off-duty Altamonte Springs police officer who crashed and badly injured her passenger.
Ashley Rowe, 24, lost control and crashed just north of State Road 434 and Maitland Boulevard early Tuesday morning and state troopers said they're now investigating whether Rowe had been drinking.
A scraped-up tree is the most visible evidence left from the crash on quiet Lotus Landing Boulevard (see map) in the wee hours of Tuesday morning. Florida Highway Patrol officials suspect off-duty Altamonte Springs police officer Ashley Rowe may have been drunk when she lost control, critically injuring her passenger. They took a sample of her blood at the hospital.
“I just wanted to make sure it's investigated the way it should be investigated and whatever comes out comes out,” said Tom Kroohs, the father of the injured passenger.
Kroohs' son Michael was still in serious condition Tuesday night. Kroohs says he doesn't know for sure about the drinking, but he does know a group of police officers and EMTs was out partying earlier in the evening before the crash.
“There was a bunch of people out at a restaurant, down at Millenia Mall or something. They were all coming back here,” he said.
Kroohs, who is an EMT with Reedy Creek, and Officer Rowe never made it. Tuesday afternoon, there were still shards of glass embedded in the bark of the tree Rowe hit.
Altamonte Springs Police Department put Rowe on paid leave while FHP investigates. Police officials said only when FHP finishes its investigation in about eight weeks will they decide if and how to punish Rowe.
Rowe has no previous criminal history.
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