WEST PERRINE, Fla. – An 11-year-old boy was watching television when a 61-year-old woman crashed a black Kia Optima into his home on Friday in south Miami-Dade County. He and the woman were injured.
Fire Rescue personnel responded to the one-story home at 11545 SW 168th Terr., in the West Perrine neighborhood. Manny Llanos, the homeowner’s nephew, said their neighbor from across the street crashed into her home, a pickup truck, a fence, and then the home.
“So she kind of reversed into her house, tried to jump back into the car to put it in Park; put it in Drive by mistake. Then just accelerated and it hit my uncle’s car, hit the fence, and then went straight through the house,” Llanos said.
The boy, who is on the autism spectrum, was sitting on the sofa crying. The boy’s father was in the backyard putting away equipment after cutting the grass. He ran inside when he heard the crash. The family’s dog named “Luna” was so scared she ran away and returned later.
“He sees the car is inside his house and his son is sitting there bleeding from his nose. So everyone was pretty panicked at that point with what was going on,” Llanos said. “It was a very serious impact, for that car to have gone even as far as it did. Hitting a truck, hitting the fence, and hitting the house. I can just imagine if the car wasn’t in the way.”
Authorities declared both homes were unsafe. Emmanuel Llanos set up a GoFundMe fundraiser and asked the public for help for the family.
Afternoon report
Local 10 News Assignment Desk Editors Emily Hales and Wilson Louis contributed to this report.