Key West city manager cited after crash in city SUV, records show
Crash report obtained through a public-records request and reviewed by Above the Fold says City Manager Brian Barroso failed to yield while turning onto U.S. 1, disabling another vehicle.
A three-vehicle crash involving a City of Key West–owned SUV driven by City Manager Brian Barroso left one vehicle disabled Friday morning after investigators determined the city vehicle failed to yield while turning onto U.S. 1, according to a Florida Traffic Crash Report obtained through a public-records request and reviewed by Above the Fold.
The crash occurred at 6:36 a.m. Nov. 14, 2025, at the intersection of MacDonald Avenue and U.S. 1 on Stock Island. The report, filed by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, states that a Ford Explorer owned by the City of Key West was making a left turn from MacDonald Avenue onto southbound U.S. 1 when it entered the intersection and collided with oncoming traffic.
According to investigators, the city vehicle struck a Toyota Corolla traveling through the intersection, forcing it into a second vehicle. The Corolla sustained disabling damage and was towed from the scene, while the other vehicles sustained functional or minor damage.
All drivers told deputies the traffic signal was green in their direction. Investigators cited Barroso for failure to yield to vehicles already in the intersection while entering a state highway from a subordinate roadway, according to the report.
No injuries were reported. Deputies found no evidence of alcohol or drug impairment. Road and weather conditions were clear and dry, and the scene was cleared by 7:15 a.m.
Why it Matters
The crash comes as City Hall continues to face heightened public scrutiny over transparency and accountability following a series of governance and ethics controversies involving former senior officials. While the traffic citation is unrelated to those matters, the involvement of the city’s top administrative official operating a city-owned vehicle is likely to draw attention in a community already sensitive to oversight of government conduct.
City officials have not indicated whether the crash will prompt any internal review beyond routine fleet, insurance and risk-management procedures.
City fleet use and liability
The City of Key West maintains a fleet of vehicles assigned to departments and senior officials for official use. Fleet vehicles are typically insured through the state’s public risk management system, which covers liability and property damage arising from authorized use.
Traffic citations issued to city employees while operating city vehicles are generally treated as personal civil matters. Accidents, however, are subject to internal reporting requirements and insurance review, with vehicle damage and third-party claims processed through the city’s risk-management and insurance providers.