OCALA, FL (352today.com) – An Ocala Police Department (OPD) officer was released from the Intensive Care Unit on Monday. The officer was seriously injured when a driver crashed head-on into his patrol car Saturday evening.

OPD says it appeared the driver, 44-year-old Kristopher Kent Winningham, intentionally slammed into a patrol car with Sgt. Ron Malone inside. Officers were pursuing Winningham after he plowed through an unrelated crash scene and took off. The first incident killed a pedestrian.

Ocala Police say Kristopher Kent Winningham, 44, hit and killed a pedestrian at an unrelated crash scene and then appeared to intentionally crash into a police cruiser seriously injuring an officer inside. Courtesy: OPD

This all started when officers responded to a crash scene around 10:30 p.m. at the intersection of South Pine Avenue and Southwest 17th Street.

OPD says officers were investigating a crash when a driver plowed into the scene killing a pedestrian. They say the driver took off. Courtesy: OPD
OPD says the second crash happened when the hit-and-run driver collided with a police patrol car, seriously injuring the officer inside. Courtesy: OPD

In a post on their Facebook page, OPD says Malone will remain in the hospital for further treatment. “He has a long recovery journey ahead of him. We wholeheartedly thank everyone for their thoughts and concerns for our officer and kindly ask that you continue to keep him and his family in your prayers during this challenging time,” the post said.

Winningham died from the injuries he sustained from crashing into Malone’s patrol car.