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    5. Intense police pursuit finishes in a collision as suspects escape on foot in Merritt Island

    Intense police pursuit finishes in a collision as suspects escape on foot in Merritt Island

    Dennis Hernandez

    MERRITT ISLAND, FL – June, 2026 – A police chase ended in a crash in Merritt Island after Cocoa police officers attempted to stop a reckless driver Thursday evening, according to Cocoa Police.

    Police said an officer first noticed the vehicle near Florida Avenue and Peachtree and began following it. The officer later lost sight of the vehicle as it traveled through the downtown district.

    A short time later, a traffic officer saw the same vehicle at the intersection of U.S. 1 and State Road 520. The officer attempted a traffic stop after observing the driver traveling erratically and “all over the road,” according to the report.

    Authorities said the driver fled into Merritt Island, and officers discontinued the pursuit. The vehicle continued northbound on Courtenay Parkway before crashing.

    After the crash, three occupants exited the vehicle and ran from the scene. Police said all three suspects were eventually found and taken into custody. Investigators said one occupant is a female juvenile, while the other two are adults. Their identities had not been released at the time of reporting.

    Cocoa Police said K-9 Draco helped capture the driver after another officer spotted the suspect hiding in nearby shrubs. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional details, including names and possible charges, are expected later.

    If you or a loved one was affected by a serious crash, seek medical care promptly and preserve available evidence, including photos, video, and witness information. Dennis Hernandez Injury Attorneys has recovered millions and millions for clients. We fight to get you paid!

     

    Credits and attribution

    Original reporting: “Dramatic police chase ends in crash as suspects flee on foot in Merritt Island,” WFTV Channel 9, by Jake Jordan, WFTV.com. Published June 18, 2026 at 3:46 PM EDT.

    Information attributed to Cocoa Police.

    Copyright 2026 Cox Media Group. All rights reserved.

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    Dennis Hernandez
    Dennis started practicing law at just 24 years old. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Duke University and continued on to earn law degrees from Florida State University College of Law and Harvard Law School. Blessed with multiple associations, memberships and awards, Dennis graduated from the Trial Lawyers College. Mr. Hernandez is one of only 1,378 attorneys who claim this distinction. ​ In 1996, he founded firm Dennis Hernandez Injury Attorneys, which concentrates in the areas of personal injury, medical malpractice and product liability.
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