Firefighter also hurt in Mexico crash

TAMPA - A crash that badly injured a Tampa police officer in Cozumel, Mexico, also left a Sarasota County firefighter severely injured.

Lt. Laura Mitts is recovering at Bayfront Medical Center and FOX 13 is told that her injuries are not as severe as those suffered by her friend, Officer Andrea Law. Law is being treated at Tampa General Hospital.

Law and Mitts have been friends for years. Both serve their communities proudly. Wednesday afternoon, both were in a Jeep in Mexico when it collided with another.

Mitts' mother got the call late that night.

"Well, I was in shock. Like, I was calm until I started talking to my son and I broke down," said Martha Mitts.

The women were on vacation with friends in Mexico. Mitts says five of them were in the rented Jeep on their way into Cozumel to have lunch, when another Jeep with six people inside suddenly pulled out in front of them.

"I worry every time she's on her job because of things that happen. So when I heard about that crash it was 'how fast can I get there?' " added Mitts.

Initial reports say two passengers from the other Jeep were killed. Law was flown stateside to Tampa General. Friends say she is now in a medically induced coma, fighting for her life.

"It's a big concern because it's a family member. She's a part of our family," said Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor.

Friday, kids at Stewart Middle School, where Law is a resource officer, made get well cards.

"We all took a moment to just keep her in our thoughts. It's been a bit of a shock," said Robert Cox of Stewart Middle School.

For Laura Mitts, the trip back stateside was more complicated. She says because of a misdiagnosis, her insurance didn't deem it necessary to fly her back right away. Friends, family and the Sarasota Firefighters Benevolent Fund banded together to make it happen.

As it turned out, Mitts broke both feet and has a fractured pelvis. Mitts says the first thing she'll do when she gets out of the hospital is visit Law.

Friends of the two women say they are fighters and hope they will have the chance to reunite.

"Just my prayers are with her. She's in my thoughts every minutes, without a doubt every minute," offered friend Angela Gross.