HIALEAH, Fla. – A 15-year-old out for a joyride will likely face adult charges in connection with a deadly crash in Hialeah, authorities say.
The crash happened Tuesday night in the 400 block of Southeast Fifth Street.
Two people, 39-year-old Yarnia Garcia Hernandez and her aunt, 53-year-old Gloria Hernandez, were killed in the crash, while Hernandez’s mother, 66-year-old Liliana Hernandez Molina, was in the back seat and remained in critical condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, according to authorities.
Police said Maykoll Santiesteban was behind the wheel in his father’s car.
The teen spoke to Local 10 News’ Glenna Milberg, telling her he did not have a driver’s license. He also said the vehicle he hit had just run a stop sign.
“I just took it, the keys were there and I just took it,” Santiesteban said.
Police dispute his claim that the other vehicle ran a stop sign. They said he was speeding at 83 mph in a 30 mph zone just before the crash.
Santiesteban is facing two counts of vehicular manslaughter and three counts of driving without a license.
The victims’ family members have set up a GoFundMe page to aid with final expenses.
Hernandez’s son, Osmei’te Rodriguez, returned to the scene on Friday with relatives. They laid flowers and sent prayers.
Rodriguez said the family is lost, but also angry.
“His parents have to know that he was driving and that it’s not his first time doing it,” he told local news outlets in Spanish. “No one drives at that speed when it’s their first time. The parents have the responsibility too.”
