Florida Tow Truck Driver Charged After Towing Honda With 4-Year-Old Inside, Child Falls Onto Roadway as Father Chases Truck, Police Say
FLORIDA — A tow truck driver in South Florida is facing criminal charges after allegedly hauling away a parked Honda Accord with a 4-year-old girl still inside, ignoring the child’s father as he chased the truck and shouted for him to stop — moments before the child opened a door and fell into the roadway, according to police.
Authorities say Sergio Jesus Suarez has been charged with child neglect following the incident, which was partially captured on surveillance video.
Father Says He Was Inside Restaurant for Only Minutes
According to an arrest report obtained by investigators, the child’s father told police he briefly went inside Bistro Creole in Sunrise for approximately two minutes, leaving his Honda Accord parked outside with his 4-year-old daughter inside.
When he came back out, he saw the vehicle already being lifted by a tow truck operated by Suarez, who later claimed the car was “illegally parked.”
Tow Truck Allegedly Drives Off Despite Father’s Warnings
Police say the father ran toward the tow truck, banging on the driver’s side window and repeatedly yelling that his daughter was still inside the car.
Despite those warnings, investigators allege Suarez never exited the tow truck, never inspected the Honda, and continued driving out of the parking lot with the child inside.
“The tow truck driver initiated the tow and drove away without exiting the vehicle or checking the towed vehicle for occupants,” the arrest report states.
Child Falls Onto Busy Roadway After Door Opens
According to police, the father chased the tow truck through the plaza and onto West Oakland Park Boulevard, continuing to scream that a child was inside.
Moments later, he told officers he saw his daughter open the rear driver-side door and fall onto the roadway while the truck was still moving.
A witness at the scene corroborated the father’s account, telling police she saw:
- The father chasing the tow truck
- The rear door open
- A child tumble out onto the road
- The tow truck continue driving at a high rate of speed
4-Year-Old Hospitalized With Injuries
Police say the father ran into traffic, grabbed his daughter, and pulled her to safety.
The child was taken to a hospital, where she was treated for injuries to both arms and her right calf, according to the report.
Police Cite “Culpable Negligence”
Investigators determined that Suarez’s alleged actions — failing to inspect the vehicle before towing and continuing to drive after being alerted to a child inside — created a foreseeable and substantial risk of serious bodily harm or death.
“His actions constituted culpable negligence and demonstrated a reckless disregard for the safety of a minor,” the report states.
Judge Reprimands Driver at Bond Hearing
During a bond hearing Monday night in Broward County, Judge Corey Friedman addressed the seriousness of the allegations.
“This is one that stuck out to me this morning,” the judge said.
“He admitted that he didn’t look at the vehicle, and I think it’s also on surveillance.”
Suarez’s attorney disputed the claim, stating that his client told him he checked the vehicle three times and did not see a child inside.
Driver Released on Bond, Case Ongoing
Suarez was released on bond following the hearing. His next court date has not yet been scheduled, and the investigation remains ongoing.
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