Teens Charged in Hit-and-Run Crash That Killed 5-Year-Old

Pair fled scene of fatal crash in Fort Lauderdale: Police

Two teens have been arrested and are facing charges in the hit-and-run crash that killed a 5-year-old girl in Fort Lauderdale Sunday.

Fort Lauderdale Police say Yanelle Lucero was riding her tricycle westbound on the 100 block of NW 67th Street on the northern edge of the roadway at about 4:30 p.m. when she was hit by a GMC van that was also traveling westbound.

The van's driver, 19-year-old Erik Garcia immediately fled the scene on foot, police said. His friend, 19-year-old Mario Argumedo, ran to the child, picked her up and carried her to her mother and then drove the van away from the scene, police said.

"I put her in the car and left. I was driving crazy on 95, just driving, but I would keep touching and checking her," said Yanelle's mother, Katherine Diaz. "'Baby, come on, talk to Mama.' She wouldn’t respond."

Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue then took the girl to Broward General Medical Center, where she later died.

Diaz said her daughter loved to play outdoors. She attended McNab Elementary and was very smart, she said.

"She had like a lot of blood, and her body was all scratched. She was so tiny," said Yanelle's 8-year-old sister, Keyra Lucero, as she described a photo of her sister after the accident.

An investigation led police to Garcia and Argumedo. According to a police report, Garcia called 911 to turn himself in.

Garcia, from Fort Lauderdale, was charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving death, no valid driver license and failure to use due care. On Monday, Judge John Hurley said in Broward court that the child was under the vehicle, but instead of coming to her help, Garcia decided to run away.

Argumedo, of Pompano, who owns the vehicle, was charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving death, tampering with evidence and allowing an unlicensed driver to operate a vehicle in his possession.

“It’s also alleged that at some point you attempted to discard the tricycle that the young girl had been riding by taking it to another location," Hurley told Argumedo.

On Monday Hurley ordered both men held without bond and said neither one could contact the mother, Diaz. Both defendants have been assigned a public defender for the case.

Yanelle's father arrived Monday afternoon at the Pan American Estates trailer park where the family lives after driving straight from New York. Meantime, Keyra and her friends in the neighborhood are collecting money to pay for a funeral.

Neighbor Shawna Lomas said their street is unsafe, especially on weekends.

“Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, everybody comes off from work and they drink and they drive. I’m scared to let my kid play outside now," she said.

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