WILTON MANORS, Fla. – The search continues Tuesday for a driver who police say struck six children in Wilton Manors on Monday, killing two of them and sending the other four to the hospital. However, the Broward Sheriff’s Office confirmed Tuesday that detectives have located the vehicle believed to have been used in the incident -- a 2009 Honda Accord.
The two girls who were killed in the incident were identified Tuesday as 6-year-old Andrea Fleming and 5-year-old Kylie Jones.
“This is truly a horrific event, especially so close to the holidays,” Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Stephen Gollan said Monday.
The incident occurred around 2:50 p.m. Monday in the area of Northwest Ninth Avenue and 24th Street.
According to Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies, a male driving the Honda was heading south on Northwest Ninth Avenue (Powerline Road), at the same time that a Broward County Transit bus was stopped to drop off a passenger.
“As the bus pulled out to continue southbound, it began to merge into the right thru lane from the edge of the roadway,” a BSO news release stated. “At that time, the Honda approached the bus from behind. The driver of the Honda failed to allow the bus to merge and passed it, almost striking the front driver’s side as it cut in front of the bus. The Honda then veered right (west) and drove off the roadway and onto the sidewalk and driveway at 2417 N.W. Ninth Ave., striking multiple children.”
Deputies said the driver fled south immediately after the crash.
Andrea and Kylie were pronounced dead at the scene.
“People from the community lifted the car off the children,” a nearby resident said through tears.
The four children who were transported to Broward Health Medical Center where identified Tuesday as Draya Fleming, 9; Johnathan Carter, 10; Laziyah Stokes, 9; and Audre Fleming, 2.
WATCH BELOW: Monday afternoon press conference on fatal hit-and-run crash
Upset family members rushed to check on their loved ones at the hospital.
“The children that have been transported are in various stages, some of those are critical,” Gollan said during a Monday evening news conference.
Wilton Manors Police Chief Gary Blocker posted a statement to Twitter Tuesday, praising the Good Samaritans who rushed over to help immediately after the incident.
“Our Island City is heartbroken, and our police department stands with you as we support these families in this time of need… we are Island City Strong!” the statement read in part. “We thank those bystanders who stopped to render aid. Your compassion to help these children is admirable. We thank our Island City community for your support for these families, and for the first responders who bear witness to this tragic event.”
To Our Island City Community, Yesterday afternoon, tragedy unfolded in the 2400 block Northwest 9th Avenue as a hit and run driver struck six children whose ages ranged from two to ten years old. See full post at https://t.co/GtH2LwBFp3 pic.twitter.com/YfOxwVkPSl
— wmpd411 (@WMPD411) December 28, 2021
As deputies continue searching for the driver involved, the victims’ loved ones are now forced to mourn the loss of their children at a time when most families are coming together to celebrate.
“I can’t imagine what these families are going through, and our thoughts and prayers are with them,” Gollan said.
Anyone with further information is asked to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.