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The driver of a black Ford Focus was arrested this Monday after hitting an 11-year-old boy who was walking to his school in Miami Gardens, Florida, according to the Miami Gardens Police.
The minor, a student at Parkland Elementary School, was airlifted to Ryder Trauma Center with serious head injuries, although in stable condition, reported Telemundo 51.
According to the authorities, the driver "tried to avoid the slow traffic by driving onto the grassy strip, at which point the vehicle collided with a tree and subsequently ran over the minor."
The boy was just two blocks from his school when the impact occurred, confirmed his grandmother, Stephany Larrymore, to the media present at the scene.
"He was on his way to school, they were crossing the street, and I heard that the person hit them on the sidewalk. I don't know how that happened," declared Larrymore, who described the incident as "crazy, especially in a school zone with so many children walking to school."
The child's brother witnessed the accident. "This is something traumatic for him," noted the grandmother, who also indicated that the family has a history of brain injuries, which heightens concerns about the child's condition.
Larrymore confirmed that the teenager underwent an MRI to rule out internal bleeding or brain injuries, and that he has no fractures.
The driver was arrested at the scene and will face a charge of reckless driving. Authorities did not disclose their identity.
A surveillance video captured two children crossing the street moments before a loud impact was heard. A neighbor who heard the bang ran out of his house: "I thought it was a bomb or that the power was out, so I ran out and called my wife to have her call the police."
The incident reignited residents' complaints about speeding in the area. Rita Rodríguez, a local resident, pointed out that "they're supposed to go 30 miles per hour, but we've seen cars going 40, 50 miles, or more." Her husband, Pedro Ramírez, added, "I have two children of that age, and one lives in fear of going outside to play."
Miami Gardens has a concerning history of traffic accidents near schools. In February 2024, a child was left in critical condition after being hit by a car near their school in the same city. In October 2023, a minor was killed while riding a bicycle to school in Miami. In June 2025, the perpetrator of a fatal hit-and-run in Miami Gardens was arrested.
The Miami-Dade area reports 164 vehicle accidents daily and ranks 11th among the most dangerous pedestrian zones in the United States, according to an analysis by Smart Growth America. Last April, another accident in Miami Gardens took the life of a young man, highlighting that traffic violence in the area continues unabated.
In Florida, a charge of reckless driving can result in up to 90 days in jail for a first offense, with harsher penalties when serious injuries are involved.
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