Two killed in crash with Riviera Beach police officer early Sunday morning

A Riviera Beach police officer was involved in a crash that left two people dead just after 1 a.m. Sunday, authorities say.

Officer Carl Johnson was rushed to the hospital and remains in serious condition.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office did not release the names of either victim on Sunday, citing Marsy’s privacy law.

It was unclear whether the officer was on duty at the time of the 1:03 a.m. crash.

According to the accident report, the officer was heading south on Australian Avenue in a 2022 Dodge Charger.

A Riviera Beach man and his passenger were heading north on Australian Avenue in a Hyundai Genesis G80.

When they turned left on West 13 Street to head west, the officer’s Dodge Charger slammed into the passenger side of the Hyundai sedan. Both cars skidded across the pavement and came to a stop on the southwest shoulder of the road.

The driver and his passenger were declared dead at the scene.

The officer was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

Detectives with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the fatal crash.

Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com or on Twitter @Susannah_Bryan