HOLLYWOOD, Fla. -- Dashcam videos revealed the last moments of a Hollywood police officer's life before he died in a November car crash.

Officer Alex Del Rio died while pursuing a speeding car. His cruiser crashed into a taxicab that veered into his path. The driver of the cab was not charged in connection with the crash, and a video recently released by Hollywood police might explain why.

Del Rio was 31 years old, a dedicated police officer who was almost as passionate about traffic enforcement as he was his family.

On Nov. 22, Del Rio was patrolling Sheridan Street, the camera on his dashboard rolling as he made several stops. The video shows Del Rio chatting with a fellow officer moments after completing a traffic stop. The time stamp on the video said 8:39:30 p.m., two and a half minutes before the crash that ended Del Rio's life.

At 8:40, just moments after his chat, Del Rio spotted a black SUV that investigators estimated was traveling at 80 mph.

Del Rio waited for the traffic to clear, then turned left and began to accelerate. According to the report, he was traveling 100 mph down Sheridan Street in pursuit of the speeder without his lights and sirens, a move that investigators call protocol designed to avoid pursuits.

A few seconds before 8:42, as Del Rio approached 70th Avenue, a blue and white cab turned left in front of him. The video shows the cab and Del Rio swerving to avoid it. The camera went dead before recording the last two seconds of Del Rio's life.

Del Rio's cruiser bounced off one royal palm tree, spun and hit another. The impact crushed the rear of the car and broke the fuel pump off the gas tank. The car burst into flames.

Despite efforts by passersby and fellow officers, Del Rio was unable to escape.

Since 1993, more than two dozen officers in the U.S. have been killed in Ford Crown Victoria explosions, and dozens more have been severely burned. The design of the fuel tank behind the rear axle, in the crash zone, has been the subject of numerous lawsuits.

Del Rio's mother, Miriam Fernandez, has hired an attorney. For her, the only consolation in the final report on her son's death is that he spent the last few minutes of his life doing what he loved.

Fernandez has established a foundation in her son's name. For more information, visit alexdelriofoundation.org.