COOPER CITY, Fla. – A 16-year-old boy who was rushed to a hospital Monday morning after being struck by a Tesla while riding a scooter was pronounced dead Tuesday, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office.
BSO identified the victim Tuesday as Anthony Malec.
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The crash was reported just after 8 a.m. on the 9400 block of Stirling Road, just outside Cooper City High School.
Sky 10 was above the scene a short time later as the red Tesla was parked in the middle of the roadway with damage to its windshield and to its front passenger side.
The mangled scooter could be seen on the sidewalk.
According to BSO spokesman Carey Codd, the driver remained at the scene.
In a news release Monday, Codd said the teen “entered the roadway and began to cross Stirling Road northbound diagonally,” then “rode into the path of the Tesla and was struck.”
“The teen was not in a designated crosswalk as he crossed Stirling Road,” Codd said.
Witness Vanessa Ruiz described the crash.
“I saw someone fly in the air one car in front of me,” she said. “There (were) just people running everywhere so I called 911.”
Malec, an 11th-grader headed to school, was transported to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries where he later died.
“Neither excessive speed nor impairment are believed to be factors in the crash,” Codd said.
The school’s principal, Vera Perkovic, sent the following message to parents after the crash, shared with Local 10 News by Broward County Public Schools:
"This is Principal Perkovic, calling with information about an accident involving one of our CCHS students. It happened this morning, Monday, March 18, on Stirling Road, near our school. While I cannot share specific details, I want you to know we remain in close communication with the student’s family and will do everything we can to provide support during this difficult time. Please join me in keeping our student and the student’s family in your thoughts and prayers. I also want to make you aware that we have counselors available on campus, should any of our students need assistance regarding this accident.
Thank you for your support, and please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.”
Vera Perkovic, Cooper City High School principal