OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Ocala Police Department Chief Mike Balken announced an internal investigation had been launched in the wake of new details pertaining to Tuesday morning’s fatal crash on Maricamp Road during a press conference Wednesday evening.

During the press conference, held at police headquarters on S. Pine Avenue, Balken revealed that officers of the OPD had a previous interaction with the two adult brothers in the SUV involved in the collision earlier that same night.

“We’ve taken immediate steps to launch a full internal investigation into what’s really a devastating incident,” Balken told members of the media.

He went on to recap the tragic accident that occurred in the early morning hours of Tuesday, September 29, 2026, when an SUV and minvan collided at the intersection of SE Maricamp Road and SE 36th Avenue. The occupants of the SUV—a 50-year-old mother and her 31-year-old son—were killed in the crash, while the driver of the minivan, one of the two adult brothers in the car, was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

“[The incident has] become even more troubling upon discovering that our officers interacted with the brothers and their vehicle just minutes prior to the crash,” Balken said.

The chief detailed the interaction, in which an officer observed the minivan blocking a lane of traffic on the 400 block of State Road 200 while the brothers stood on the sidewalk in an apparent argument.

“During this interaction, which was captured on bodycam footage, there are indications, unfortunately, that both had been drinking earlier in the night, and may have been impaired,” said Balken. “Unfortunately, and for reasons that I can’t full yet explain, the officers failed to investigate a possible DUI or even question the driver’s level of intoxication.

“Instead, the brothers were allowed to drive away, and within minutes had struck and killed the victims.”

The OPD released the bodycam footage of the interaction to the media and the public, which shows the two brothers explaining their argument to the officer present.

(“I think anyone even outside of law enforcement can look at that, and based on the statements alone and some other indicators, would come to the conclusion that this driver was under the influence of something,” Balken said later in the conference in an answer to a reporter’s question.)

Balken said a full investigation was underway “to determine potential policy violations,” and that the lead officer involved in the pre-collision interaction has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. The chief estimated that the investigation could take four weeks.

He also said the “primary officer” that was on the scene for the entire interaction with the brothers is “extremely new to the agency,” and out of field training for approximately 30 days.

“You know I just really can’t express how deeply disappointed and saddened I am with this situation,” said Balken, who reported that he had been in touch with the deceased motorists’ families to brief them on the developments. “And I really want our community to know that we’re taking every necessary step to investigate thoroughly and address any mistakes that contributed to this terrible loss.”

A traffic homicide investigation into the collision is also underway.