WESTON, Fla. — A motorcycle crash that shut down several lanes of Interstate 75 Tuesday night has claimed the life of a retired Miami Beach police officer, authorities confirmed. The deadly wreck happened during evening traffic and left drivers facing hours-long delays as investigators worked the scene.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash occurred shortly after 7 p.m. on I-75 southbound at Exit 15 near Royal Palm and Arvida Parkway. Troopers said a Volkswagen Jetta and an Indian Challenger motorcycle were traveling south in adjacent lanes when the rear left side of the Jetta collided with the front right side of the motorcycle.
After the impact, the motorcycle overturned, and the rider was thrown from the bike. Authorities said the motorcyclist was “separated” from the motorcycle and was then struck by another vehicle traveling on the interstate. The rider suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
On Wednesday, Miami Beach police identified the victim as Kenneth “Kenny” MacLeod. MacLeod was a retired Miami Beach police officer who continued to serve as an active reserve officer. In a statement shared on social media, the department said MacLeod honorably served from October 1990 until his retirement in March 2020 and returned shortly after as a reserve officer in April 2020.
The drivers of the Volkswagen Jetta and the other vehicle involved in the secondary impact both stopped at the scene. Florida Highway Patrol said neither driver was injured. At this time, it remains unclear whether any charges will be filed as investigators continue to review evidence and determine the sequence of events that led to the crash.
The crash forced the closure of four southbound lanes of I-75 for several hours Tuesday night. According to the Florida Department of Transportation, lanes remained shut down while troopers conducted their investigation and cleared debris from the roadway. Traffic was not fully restored until after midnight.
Video from the scene showed a yellow tarp covering part of the roadway in the leftmost lanes and the damaged motorcycle lying on its side nearby. The investigation into the crash remains ongoing. Authorities are asking anyone who may have witnessed the collision or has relevant information to contact the Florida Highway Patrol as they work to determine what caused the deadly crash.
