Florida Injury Attorneys Blog

Seth Adams of Loxahatchee Groves, Florida died on Thursday following an altercation with a police officer, according to news reports. Adams, 24, was pronounced dead at St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach this morning, a police spokeswoman reportedly said. The police officer who allegedly shot Adams in the chest in an act of self-defense has not been identified publicly; the officer, who was described as a 'veteran' by the spokesperson, has been placed on paid administrative leave as an internal investigation of the shooting is conducted. No charges have been filed. It is not clear whether Adam's family plans on filing a wrongful death suit against the deputy. Adams was reportedly survived by his mother, father, and older brother.

According to press reports, the shooting took place late on Wednesday night near Okeechobee Boulevard and A Road, in the parking lot of A One Stop Garden Shop. Adam's family reportedly owns the business, and Adams works in an administrative position in the store's office six days a week. Adams' family also lives on the property in a trailer, according to reports.

Adams' family told the press that Adams was out with friends and had returned home at approximately 11:30 p.m. that night. It is not clear whether Adams had been drinking; the spokesperson's statement does not address alcohol or drugs being a factor in the altercation. When Adams arrived at home, the deputy was reportedly parked in the business' parking lot, wearing plain clothes. It does not appear as though the deputy was using a marked patrol car at the time, as he had to identify himself as an officer using his badge. It is not entirely clear what the officer was doing in the parking lot, although the sheriff's spokesperson evidently stated that he was on duty at the time of the shooting. The deputy reportedly used his registered weapon to fire the shot.

Continue reading "Seth Adams Dies in Loxahatchee Groves, Florida After Police Shooting" »

Stanley Gerard Pierre-Louis of Miami-Dade, Florida was taken into police custody after he lost control of his vehicle on Wednesday morning, reports indicate. Pierre-Louis, 24, has not been charged as of yet as investigators continue to determine the cause of the crash. It is not clear whether Pierre-Louis has retained a criminal defense lawyer, nor is it clear why he was taken into custody if he has not been charged with a crime.

According to news reports, the car accident occurred at approximately 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday, in the parking lot of Santa Fe Shopping Center, located in Northwest Miami-Dade near the intersection of Northwest 143rd Street and Northwest 7th Avenue. Pierre-Louis was apparently driving a Cadillac when he lost control of the vehicle for unknown reasons and crashed into five parked cars. It is not clear who owns the cars, nor is it clear what the financial damages of the accident were. Media reports do not indicate whether Pierre-Louis has a valid driver's license or whether police suspect that alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.

Sources indicate that a woman who was sitting in one of the parked cars that Pierre-Louis struck was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospitals. Her injuries have been described as non-life threatening. No one else was hurt in the crash, reports indicate.

Jemil Slaughter, an area resident, reportedly told the press that the injured woman is his sister, 25-year-old Dominique Slaughter. He relayed to the media that she had been napping in the passenger seat of a green Honda Accord at the time of the crash, and that after the car was struck, she was "hysterical" but is now doing okay. It is not clear whether Slaughter plans to press charges regarding the incident.

Accidents of all kinds occur in Florida on a daily basis. One unusual but tragic on-the-job accident that just transpired caused the death of a 48-year-old Tampa resident. The man's name has not been made public, as authorities are still working to inform family members of the death.

Continue reading "Stanley Gerard Pierre-Louis of Miami-Dade, Florida Involved in Car Accident" »

Carolyn Ramos of Port St. Lucie, Florida, is reportedly recovering after she allegedly struck a pickup truck after driving the wrong way on Interstate 95 on Sunday, according to reports. Ramos, 41, has not been charged as authorities continue to investigate the crash, which, sources indicate, may have involved the influence of drugs or alcohol. It is not clear whether Ramos has retained a private criminal defense lawyer to help her with any forthcoming charges. Likewise, it is not yet known whether family member of the victims plan on filing wrongful death suits.

According to news reports, the car accident occurred on northbound Interstate 95 near Martin Highway at approximately 2:19 a.m. on Sunday. Ramos allegedly drove her Jeep SUV onto the wrong side of the highway, running south in a northbound lane, until she collided head-on with a 1982 Chevrolet pickup truck. Police are not yet sure what caused Ramos to go the wrong way on the highway. "The events that led up to the crash are still under investigation, but the vehicles collided head-on and stopped within the inside lane of I-95," a report by the Florida Highway Patrol reportedly details.

Because the investigation is still proceeding, it is not clear where Ramos entered the highway or how fast either vehicle was going when they collided. What is known is that both vehicles ended up bursting into flames upon impact. The truck reportedly contained a man, a woman, and two children. None survived the collision, as they were trapped inside of their burning vehicle. They were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

The names and ages of the victims have not yet been released as police work to identify them and inform relatives of the loss. It is possible that identification will take some time due to the damage from the fire. "[The vehicle is] crushed and [the victims] are totally burned up, so we're waiting for the Tri-County people to come out and take it apart and determine exactly who is in the vehicle," one Florida highway patrol trooper was quoted as telling the press at the scene.

Continue reading "Carolyn Ramos of Port St. Lucie, Florida Only Survivor of Fiery Wrong-Way Crash" »

Tyler K. Burdhimo of Oakland Park, Florida was arrested after he allegedly struck and killed Maria Konstantinidis in a hit-and-run car accident, according to news reports. Burdhimo, 18, has been charged with driving without a valid driver's license and leaving the scene of a crash involving a fatality, sources indicate. He was reportedly booked into Broward County Jail on the charges, where he was granted $17,500 bail bond. If he posts the bond, sources indicate that he will have to don a GPS locator before he is freed. It is not clear whether Burdhimo has retained a private criminal defense lawyer to help him with the charges.

News sources indicate that Burdhimo has been accused of being involved in a crash that occurred on Tuesday morning in the 1500 block of Northeast 45th Street. In a public announcement, a Broward County Sheriff's office spokesperson reportedly stated that Konstantinidis, 75, had been walking along the street near the intersection of 15th Terrace and North East 45th Street just after sunrise when she was struck by a four-door Nissan Ultima. Investigators purportedly noted that the lack of skid marks in the area indicated that the driver had not stopped after the accident occurred.

Konstantinidis was reportedly found in the street wearing clothes that suggested she was exercising at the time of the crash. Police found a "Nissan" emblem on the ground near her, according to sources. Konstantinidis was transported to Broward General Medical Center for medical treatment, but she died a few hours later of injuries sustained in the accident, reports indicate.

Authorities reportedly connected the collision with Burdhimo after someone called in an anonymous tip indicating that a vehicle matching the description of the hit-and-run car was parked at a home approximately two blocks away from where the accident occurred. Police investigated the claim, which led them to a damaged 2007 Nissan Altima located at the 4300 block of Northeast 15th Terrace. Deputies evidently notice that the damage to the Nissan was consistent with damage from hitting a pedestrian and that the car was missing its' front grill emblem.

Continue reading "Tyler K. Burdhimo of Oakland Park, Florida Arrested after Maria Konstantinidis Killed in Hit-And-Run" »

Rosa Maria Rivera-Kim of Plantation, Florida was charged with the March death of Alanna DeMella today, reports indicate. Rivera-Kim, 24, was reportedly arrested at approximately 2:00 p.m. on charges of DUI manslaughter with an unlawful blood alcohol level, DUI manslaughter with impairment, and DUI property damage. It is not yet known whether she has qualified for bail bond.

The car accident in question, which made international headlines, occurred on March 18 at approximately 1:30 p.m. in a cabana located in the pool area of Riverside Hotel. The hotel is located on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. Rivera-Kim later explained to investigators that she had been on her way back from lunch with her husband when the crash occurred. She had reportedly just started eating at a Mangos Restaurant and Lounge, located at 904 E. Las Olas Boulevard, when she and her husband got into an argument. Rivera-Kim told investigators that she became upset and left, leaving her half-finished appetizers and martini at the restaurant.

Rivera-Kim reported that as she drove by the hotel, she lost control of her silver 2006 Audi, sources indicate. Coverage of the accident says that Rivera-Kim crossed an eastbound lane of the road and crashed into the cabana-style bathroom near the pool of the hotel. Alanna DeMella, 27 and seven months pregnant, was reportedly using the facility at the time of the crash. Sources indicate that she died on impact. Witnesses at the hotel reported that the cabana partially collapsed when the car hit it.

A witness later told police that Rivera-Kim had been going over the 25 mile per hour speed limit posted on the road, according to reports. Rivera-Kim reportedly told investigators at the crash site that she did not remember hitting the building. Toxicology reports of blood taken from Rivera-Kim at the crash site showed that her blood alcohol level at the time of the collision was 0.24%. The legal blood alcohol percentage for operating a motor vehicle is 0.08%.

Continue reading "Rosa Maria Rivera-Kim Charged with Broward County, Florida Crash that Killed Alanna DeMella" »

Lesa Tavarez, Daemon Drew, and two others were involved in a car accident in The Acreage, Florida that ended with Tavarez dead and Drew and the others hospitalized, according to news reports. No charges have yet been filed and an investigation is under way, but authorities have purportedly indicated that the accident may have been the result of DUI or impairment due to drugs. It is not clear whether 17-year-old Drew, who allegedly ran into Tavarez' vehicle, has retained a private criminal defense lawyer or would potentially face prosecution as an adult if charged.

According to sources, the collision occurred on Friday at approximately 1:13 p.m. at the intersection of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road and Orange Boulevard in The Acreage, Florida. Reports indicate that Tavarez was making a right turn onto Orange Boulevard in her 2011 Mini Cooper when Drew struck her vehicle with a 2008 Hyundai. Details of the crash are not immediately available, such as whether the crash was a rear-end, side-sweep, or head-on collision or whether speed was a factor. After the collision, reports indicate that the Mini Cooper rolled over. Drew's vehicle apparently continued down Orange Boulevard until his vehicle struck a curb and flipped over as well.

Tavarez's vehicle was reportedly carrying passengers Zachary Dooling, 20, along with a minor whose name and age have not been made public; it is not clear how Tavarez and the passengers were related. Tavarez was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, according to reports. The three survivors of the crash were airlifted to St. Mary's Medical center for treatment. Police indicated that Seminole Pratt Whitney Road was partially closed for a few hours following the collision but were re-opened that evening.

Unfortunately, this was not the only fatal accident in the area last week. On Tuesday, a three-vehicle crash on Veterans Memorial Parkway injured six people, sources indicate. The names of the injured parties are currently unavailable as Port St. Lucie officials continue to investigate the collision, one of numerous South Florida car accidents to occur recently.

Continue reading "Lesa Tavarez, Daemon Drew Collide in The Acreage, Florida Car Accident; Tavarez Dies" »

Melvin Jonathan Gouthro was struck in a Fort Lauderdale, Florida hit-and-run accident that left him with serious injures, news sources indicate. Gouthro, 41, was last reported to be at Broward Health Medical Center in critical condition. Police are still looking for the driver, who was reportedly fled the scene in a black sedan. Pompano Beach Rotary Club, of which Gouthro is a member, has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the hit-and-run driver.

According to reports, the accident occurred on Saturday at approximately 1:30 a.m. on Seabreeze Boulevard. Gouthro, a Bahamas resident, was reportedly staying in the area for pleasure and was walking to W Hotel, where he was staying, when the collision occurred. He was reportedly coming from city docks near East Las Olas Boulevard, where he had left his Ocean Sportfish yacht after spending the day watching the Lauderdale Air show with friends aboard the vessel.

A witness to the accident reported that after striking Gouthro, the hit-and-run vehicle fled down Poinsetta Street. The license plate number of the vehicle remains unknown, and no other description is yet available. It is not clear whether Gouthro was crossing the street at a crosswalk. The witness called police to report the accident, and Gouthro was transported to Broward Health Medical Center for treatment.

Gouthro's business partner from Walton & Company CPAs, located in Boca Raton, told the press that his friend had yet to regain consciousness. "He is showing signs of responsiveness, but his eyes are closed," said R. Walton of his accountant business partner. "I hope they get the driver. It was a very criminal act to leave him there." It is not clear what kinds of injuries Gouthro sustained. Gouthro's family has reportedly declined to comment on the accident, and it is unknown whether they are seeking the services of a personal injury lawyer.

Gouthro's friends say that Gouthro is a generous and kind man. "He is always the person to pick you up at the airport," one of Gouthro's Rotary Club friends told the press. "He's very gracious and very generous with charities in the Bahamas and made a lot of anonymous donations. If we needed $500 to donate books, he'd be the first to give it himself."

Continue reading "Melvin Jonathan Gouthro Injured in Fort Lauderdale, Florida Hit-And-Run" »

Edith Bette Lewis, Steven V. Taitel, his wife Karen Taitel, and Jack and Joyce Weinstein were involved in a Palm Beach, Florida car accident over the weekend that ended with Steven Taitel dead, according to news sources. Taitel, 69, was reportedly pronounced dead at Delray Medical Center after the accident. Karen Taitel, 68, Joyce Weinstein, 67, and Edith Bette Lewis, 72, sustained serious injuries in the crash, sources indicate. Jack Weinstein was reportedly the least hurt, suffering minor injuries. Charges are pending as an investigation into the crash continues. Authorities have asked any witness of the crash to please come forward with information.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office reportedly announced the accident in a press release on Monday morning. According to reports, the accident occurred at approximately 10:23 p.m. on Sunday night at the entrance to the Cobblestone Creek community located on Lyons Road. Weinstein was reportedly driving an Infiniti sedan carrying his wife and Steven and Karen Taitel, while Lewis was driving a Dodge Caravan with no passengers. The crash allegedly occurred when the Infiniti was headed northbound on Lyons Road. Lewis allegedly drove her vehicle directly in front of the Infiniti while trying to turn left into the Cobblestone Creek community where she lived. The Infiniti struck the Caravan on its right side, sources indicate.

After the accident, everyone involved in the crash had to be transported to area hospitals for medical treatment, according to reports. Taitel was reportedly pronounced dead at 4:05 a.m. on Monday at Delray Medical Center, where he was undergoing emergency surgery. Karen Taitel, Joyce Weistein, and Lewis remain in serious condition, and no updates on their statuses are immediately available. It is not clear whether Jack Weinstein is still in the hospital

Florida has seen more than its' fair share of traffic accidents recently. In one Winter Park, Florida incident that occurred recently, a 21-year-old woman was arrested and charged with DUI and property damage after she allegedly struck a Steak 'n Shake restaurant with her SUV. It is not immediately clear whether Brittany Christian has qualified for bail bond or retained a private criminal defense attorney following the incident.

Continue reading "Edith Bette Lewis, Steven V. Taitel in Palm Beach, Florida Car Accident" »

Jeff Hood of Miami, Florida struck and killed father-daugher duo Carolina Cuadra and Issac Antonio Lopez in a car accident, according to reports. Hood, 45, suffered minor injuries in the crash. No charges have yet been filed as police continue to investigate the incident. It is not clear whether Mr. Hood has retained a private criminal defense attorney.

Reports indicate that the car accident occurred last Thursday at approximately 1:00 a.m. on the Palmetto Expressway, close to the Northwest 36 Street ramp. According to the accident report, Cuadra and Lopez were going to a warehouse to pick up Miami Herald Media Co. newspapers for delivery. Cuadra was a contract newspaper carrier for the paper, for which she worked 365 days a year.

While the pair was headed to the warehouse in Cuadra's 1996 Toyota, Hood allegedly rear-ended their vehicle with his 2002 Dodge pickup. The impact of the crash allegedly smashed Cuadra's vehicle, destroying the car and killing both her and her father. Sources indicate that Hood may have been speeding at the time of the accident, and police reportedly drew blood at the scene to determine whether he had been drinking. The report indicates that Hood was not visibly drunk, and no open containers were found in his vehicle.

Hood is a Miami-Dade County employee, though he was driving his personal vehicle at the time of the accident. Both Cuadra and her husband, Jose, worked for the Miami Herald. Carolina Cuadra left him behind along with her three daughters, aged 7, 13, and 21. It is not clear whether the Cuadra family plans on seeking the services of a personal injury lawyer.

Continue reading "Jeff Hood of Miami, Florida Hits, Kills Carolina Cuadra and Issac Antonio Lopez in Car Accident" »

Jennifer Toth was arrested in Orlando, Florida after she allegedly hit pedestrian Liu Ye in a hit-and-run car accident. Ye was proounced dead at Dr. Phillips Hospital soon after the accident. Toth was arrested for leaving the scene of a crash with a death in connection with the accident. She was apprehended after she contacted authorities to file an accident report, according to reports. Toth was booked into Orange County Jail in Orlando, Florida, which she later left on $20,000 bail bond. It is not clear whether Toth has retained a private criminal defense attorney.

According to the car accident report, Ye was struck at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 17 near the intersection of Meadow Creek Drive and State Road 535 in Orlando, Florida. The site of the accident is near the south entrance to Walt Disney World, where Ye, a 22-year-old Chinese national, was working as a part of Disney's International College program. The program enlists students from across the globe to work temporarily as cast members in Disney theme parks and is meant to foster international ties and provide real-world business experience, according to the program's official site. A Disney representative said that Ye had been working in the Magic Kingdom section of Walt Disney World. Disney released a statement expressing condolences to Ye's family.

The accident report indicates that Ye was crossing Meadow Creek Drive at a crosswalk when a black Nissan Ultima ran a red light and struck her. Witnesses reported that the driver of the Nissan kept going without slowing or stopping the vehicle. The report indicates that a few witnesses stopped their vehicles, called police, and tried to help Ye. She did not have identification on her at the time of the accident, but police were able to identify her afterwards, although it is unclear exactly how.

Continue reading "Jennifer Toth Arrested after Orlando, Florida Hit-And-Run Death of Liu Ye" »

Jason Santamaria, 5, died in a Homestead car accident that also injured Florencia Tarrau and Nicolas Ramirez, according to the Homestead police department. Gregoria Saucedo, 63, was uninjured in the accident and was charged with failing to failing to yield during a left hand turn resulting in a fatality and driving with an invalid drivers license in connection to the crash.

Saucedo was arrested and booked at Miami-Dade County Jail. It is not clear whether she has been granted bail bond or has retained a private criminal defense attorney. It is similarly unclear whether Jason Santamaria's family or the injured parties are seeking the services of a personal injury lawyer.

According to the accident report, the collision occurred on Monday a few minutes before 8:00 a.m. at the intersection of Campbell Drive and Kingman Road. Florencia Tarrau, 76, was reportedly driving a red Toyota sedan with Jason Santamaria buckled into the passenger seat. Tarrau, 76, is the boy's great aunt and was babysitting him at the time of the accident.

The accident report indicates that as Tarrau headed east on Campbell Drive, Gregoria attempted to turn her pickup truck onto Kingman road and clipped the Toyota in the process. The Toyota was shoved into the westbound lane of Campbell Drive, where Nicolas Ramirez, who was driving west in his Kia, struck the vehicle head-on.

Jason Santamaria is believed to have been declared dead at the scene of the accident. Tarrau and Ramierz were transported to Kendall Regional Medical Center for treatment, where Tarrau remains in critical condition. Ramirez is in fair condition, according to hospital records, though it is not clear when he will be released.

Police have indicated that Santamaria should have been in a booster seat because the seat belt was resting across his neck rather than his chest. However, child seats are not obligatory by Florida law for children over three years of age, and Santamaria was bucked in as required by law. Tarrau, therefore, will not be facing charges for not placing Santamaria in a booster seat.

Continue reading "Jason Santamaria, 5, Dies in Homestead, Florida Car Accident; Gregoria Saucedo Arrested" »

Last July, we reported on a terrible auto accident involving Edward Joseph, 27, and another man, David Da Silva, 18. Sadly, both men were killed when Da Silva's motorcycle and Joseph's F-150 pickup truck collided on a roadway in Coconut Creek, Florida.

According to new information provided by Edward Joseph's attorney, the crash investigation is now complete and it has been revealed that Edward Joseph did not violate any traffic laws, and further, that he had zero alcohol in his system at the time of the crash.

This information is very important to any person analyzing the facts of this case because it helps eliminate the possibility that Joseph somehow caused or contributed to the accident in some way.

When an accident occurs at 3:00 a.m. on a Sunday morning in South Florida, the first thing any reasonable investigator will wonder is whether or not alcohol played a role in causing the crash.

Based on the new information provided, this possibility can be eliminated as to Edward Joseph. Moreover, the fact that Joseph did not violate any traffic laws suggests that he was the innocent victim in this case.

At the end of the day, this accident had a terrible outcome for all those involved. Our sincere condolences go out to both families.

Peter Hertzak was killed in a Pensacola, Florida airplane accident on Thursday, according to reports. Hertzak, 65, was a cosmetic surgeon and OB-GYN from New Orleans and is believed to have been flying to Florida for pleasure. Investigators are currently working to determine whether a malfunction may have been responsible for the crash; initial reports from military pilot indicate that the crash may have been a result of a loss of cabin air pressure. It is not clear whether Hertzak's family plans on filing a wrongful death suit.

According to reports, Hertzak took off alone from Slidell Airport in a Cessna 421C that he owned. Hetzak reportedly planned on flying to Sarasota, Florida, but the plane ended up going down in the Golf of Mexico for unknown reasons. Sources indicate that Hertzak stopped responding to Jacksonville, Florida air traffic controller communications at approximately 9:00 a.m., and that air traffic controllers asked New Orleans National Guard jets to check on him, as they were in the area.

Two fighter jets were able to locate the Cessna 421C, which they reported had an iced-over windshield and was fluctuating from 25,00-35,000 feet. An iced-over windshield is sometimes an indication of a loss of cabin pressure, which can lead to lack of oxygen and subsequent asphyxiation for the plane's occupants.

The plane was apparently going in circles over the water for hours before it crashed. The jets were unable to communicate with Hertzak, who is believed to have been incapacitated at that time. The fighter jet pilots watched as Hertzak's plane descended in a corkscrew pattern and crashed into the ocean at approximately 12:10.

Reports indicate that the plane floated right-side up in the water before sinking approximately 120 miles off of the coast of Tampa, Florida. Coast Guard crews have sent a helicopter, a C130, and a cutter to try to locate floating remains of the crash. It is not clear whether recovering the plane will be possible, as it is believed to have sunk to the bottom of the ocean.

A mechanic and longtime friend of Dr. Hertzak told the press that the doctor has been a very good pilot and that he was judicious about maintaining his aircraft. Hertzak had reportedly been a licensed private pilot since 2008, and there is no record of him ever crashing before. Hertzak's family has yet to speak publicly about the loss.

Pilots and other plane occupants can lose consciousness due to airplane malfunctions such as cabin pressure loss, which is a common cause of airplane accident. One such tragedy occurred in 1999, when pro golfer Payne Stewart's private plane lost cabin pressure, rendering all of its' occupants unconscious. The Learjet, which was bound for the Tour Championship in Houston, ended up crashing into a field in South Dakota. All five persons aboard were killed.

Ground control reportedly lost contact with the airplane's pilots at approximately 9:33 a.m., and a series of planes were dispatched to keep track of the plane as it veered off course and eventually ran out of fuel. An investigation into the incident revealed that the plane had undergone maintenance for cabin pressure several times in the months following up to the crash. Also, military jets dispatched to check on the plane reported seeing condensation on the window.

Angel and Miguel De Jesus were killed in Boynton Beach, Florida when a Jeep Grand Cherokee collided with their scooter at an intersection, according to reports. Police have not yet released the name of the Jeep's driver. Charges are pending regarding the car accident as Boynton Beach officials conduct an investigation. It is not clear whether the driver of the Jeep has retained a private criminal defense attorney.

The crash reportedly occurred at the intersection of Congress Avenue and Miner Road at approximately 6:35 a.m. on Sunday. The De Jesus brothers were reportedly headed west on Miner Road when a Jeep Grand Cherokee headed north of Congress Avenue collided with their scooter. There is a traffic light at the intersection, and it is not clear which of the two vehicles ran a red light.

Angel, 23, and Miguel, 32, were thrown from the Vento scooter from the force of the crash. The brothers were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident by emergency medical workers. It is not clear whether the driver of the Jeep suffered any injuries. Authorities are currently conducting an investigation to determine which vehicle was at fault in the collision.

A friend of the De Jesus brothers told reporters that Angel De Jesus had just purchased the scooter with money from his recently acquired income tax return. Miguel De Jesus, the friend said, had just moved to South Florida from Puerto Rico to be with his brother. "Angel was a good kid. He was into God, and always talked about helping his family," the man told the press. "They had gone out that evening. They were coming home."

As scooter sales soar in the South Florida area along with gas prices, lax Florida laws regarding scooter driving have garnered criticism from some experts. Scooter drivers in Florida are not required to undergo special training, although critics point out that, just like when riding a motorcycle, riding a scooter leaves the body especially vulnerable to collisions. It is not clear whether the De Jesus brothers' family plans on pursuing any legal action pertaining to the regulations.

In another local accident, a car crashed into a motorcycle on U.S. 1 last Thursday, leaving the driver of the motorcycle seriously injured. Though few details are available, the accident reportedly occurred near the intersection of Southeast Eaglewood Way and U.S. 1 at approximately 5:30 p.m.. It is not clear whether alcohol or drugs are suspected to be a factor. The motorcyclist was taken to Jupiter Medical Center with serious injures; it is not known whether he or she had been released.

Motorcyclists, unlike scooter riders, are required by Florida law to obtain a special license and have insurance incentives to complete a motorcycle-riding course (motorcyclists who complete courses pay lower insurance rates). However, both motorcycle and scooter riders are required to wear helmets while riding their vehicles. It is not clear whether the De Jesus brothers or the undisclosed motorcyclist were wearing helmets at the times of their respective accidents.

Sandor Guillen of Miami, Florida allegedly killed Kaely Camacho, 13, in a deadly hit-and-run accident last Friday. Guillen, 38, was booked at Miami-Dade County Jail on one count each of DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, and leaving the scene of a crash involving a death as well as two counts of leaving the scene of a crash involving great bodily injuries. It is not clear whether Guillen has qualified for bail bond or has retained a private criminal defense attorney.

The accident reportedly occurred on Southwest 184th Street and the U.S. 1 Busway at approximately 5:00 a.m. on Friday. Guillen was allegedly speeding down the busway in an illegal southbound direction in his 2010 Range Rover when he hit a 2002 Chrysler Town and Country minivan driven by Kirk Camacho, 47, and containing passengers Breean Camacho, 16, and Kaely Camacho, 13. While it is still not clear what caused the accident, police say that Guillen was at fault. "You can see from the damage of the actual mini-van, it's missing the second half; the impact was very severe," said a Miami-Dade Police spokesperson.

Following the crash, Guillen allegedly fled the scene of the accident on foot. He was apprehended soon after and hospitalized before being taken to prison. The arrest report indicates that he smelled strongly of alcohol and was behaving inebriated at the time of his arrest. He also reportedly told officials that he had been at a gathering, where he was drinking with friends shortly before the accident.

A service station manager who was working nearby reportedly heard the crash and ran over to help. "All of a sudden, we hear 'bang' and a woman screaming. We helped take her out of the van. Her father grabbed her in her arms. He laid down next to the tree in the grass and kept saying, 'don't leave me, don't leave," the witness told the press. All of the minivan's occupants were transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital following the car accident.

Kaely died in Jackon Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center a short time after the collision. It is not clear whether she or the other occupants of the van were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, though it appears as though no one was ejected from the vehicle. At Southwood Middle School, where Kaely was attending eighth grade, classmates wore blue, her favorite color, in her honor yesterday. A group of four of Kaely's best friends showed the press bracelets that Kaely had made for them. "It's not fair, we were inseparable with her for the past four years, it shouldn't happen to her," one of them told a reporter.

Guillen is a physical therapist who lives in Coral Gables, Florida. He has been arrested twice before in the area, although in both cases charges were later dropped. In 2009, Guillen was arrested for battery; a year later, he was arrested again for battery and disorderly conduct. A sample of Guillen's blood from the time of the collision is being tested at a lab to determine whether alcohol was a factor in the crash. A blood alcohol content percentage has not been released.