An Orange County Sheriff's deputy accused of a hit-and-run crash was apparently driving recklessly as he tried to escape the victim.

Florida Highway Patrol released the 911 calls from the night Carmelo Ortiz, 50, allegedly rear-ended another car, on March 7. Troopers arrested Ortiz earlier this month.

Troopers said Ortiz rear-ended a car stopped at a red light on Red Bug Lake Road and State Road 426 in Seminole County.

Witnesses told FHP Ortiz asked if they were OK and when they said they weren't, he drove off in a black Cadillac.

Witness: “We saw it happen and then we saw the Cadillac shut its lights off and take off. He was going really fast, trying to get away.”

Victims Elizabeth Lee Bouton and Francis Watkins Michaux IV tried to follow the black Cadillac. But the operator cautioned them against doing so.

Operator: “Sir, sir…you don’t need to keep following him. You don’t know who this guy is or if he has a weapon.”

Victim: “That’s true.”

The victims were able to give 911 a detailed description of the vehicle, along with the license plate number.

During the 911 call, the victimized passenger expressed how much he wants the suspect to be caught, seemingly not worried about their own safety. But a witness who also called 911 was concerned with their safety, something the witness alleges the suspect was not.

Witness: “We sort of realized, as we were driving by what had gone on and we were sort of making sure the guy was getting out of the car to check on the other driver and then he cut us off to try and get away.”

Troopers traced the vehicle back to Ortiz's house.

According to the arrest report, the responding troopers said Ortiz's breath smelled of alcohol and he had bloodshot eyes.

When they asked to examine the car in his garage, he told them he needed to contact an attorney.

FHP arrested Ortiz April 7 after an investigation, charging him with failing to stop and remain at an accident involving injury.

Ortiz has been relieved from law enforcement duty, and his credentials and firearms were confiscated by the Sheriff's Office.

He has been with the Sheriff's Office since 1998.

Ortiz was released from jail after posting $4,900 bond.