Police searching for driver of vehicle that hit 6 children — killing two — in Broward County
Authorities are searching for a vehicle that plowed into a group of children in front of a Wilton Manors apartment building Monday afternoon — killing two and injuring four others.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office, which is investigating the horrific hit-and-run crash, did not release a description of the vehicle. Two of the children died at the crash scene, and four others were rushed to Broward Medical Health Center, some of them in critical condition, officials said at a press conference on Monday evening.
The victims ranged in age from 1 to 10 years old, said Fort Lauderdale Fire-Rescue Batallion Fire Chief Stephen Gollan.
“This is truly a horrific event, especially so close to the holidays,” Gollan told reporters.
The crash happened around 3 p.m. at 2417 NW Ninth Ave., shutting down the roads around the scene. A family reunification center was set up at the Wilton Manors City Hall Emergency Operation Center, 2020 Wilton Drive. Grief counselors were dispatched to the hospital and to the fire station — the horrific scene shook fire responders.
A neighbor, Shaunta Adams, told the Sun-Sentinel that a gray car, possibly a Nissan, veered onto the sidewalk to get around a county bus stopped on the road.
“By the time I looked up, I saw him going around the bus and I see him hit the damn kids,” Adams told the newspaper. “I jumped out my car, my car was still running, I ran up and saw the first girl on the ground. I knew she was dead. I go to the second kid and I see him dead.”
She added: “There were four of them, and the oldest one, he was holding a baby, who was maybe about 2, and he was holding — I guess they’re all sisters and brothers — and he was saying, ‘Ow, my leg.’ And I said, ‘Hold on, the ambulance is coming.’ And I just started crying because the little girl’s head was bleeding, and it was just awful.”
Adams told the Sentinel that a first-arriving paramedic, stunned that the two children were dead at the scene, covered them with a blanket and began to weep. Police officers were also huddled and crying, she said.
The bus driver, Selvin Arjun, told Herald news partner WFOR-CBS4 that he stopped to let off two passengers when the gray car drove around in front of him.
“I don’t know if he couldn’t control the car because he was going fast, but he drove straight into those kids,” Arjun noted to the station.
The sheriff’s office did not release more information on what is believed to have happened, but asked witnesses — or anyone who may have video surveillance footage of the area — to call investigators.
“Detectives are asking if anyone has any information, saw this happen, please call Broward Crime Stoppers and you can remain anonymous,” BSO spokeswoman Miranda Grossman said.
Anyone with information can call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.
This breaking news story will be updated as more information becomes available.
This story was originally published December 27, 2021 at 3:46 PM with the headline "Police searching for driver of vehicle that hit 6 children — killing two — in Broward County."
