On Dec. 14, a Florida tow truck driver faced a felony child-neglect charge after he towed a car while a 4-year-old girl remained inside. The incident, captured on video, unfolded in the parking lot of a restaurant in Sunrise, Fla., and has sparked a local debate about driver responsibility and child safety.
The Incident
The event began when a father parked his vehicle on the curb in front of a dining establishment. He left his young daughter in the back seat and hurried inside for a brief, two-minute visit. While he was inside, he noticed a tow truck approaching the lot. The driver of the tow truck began lifting the vehicle without stopping to check its interior.
The Father’s Reaction
Upon realizing his car was already being lifted, the father sprinted out and began banging on the truck’s window. He shouted repeatedly that his child was still inside, demanding the driver to stop. Video footage shows the father’s desperate pleas echoing across the parking lot, and his voice growing more urgent as the tow truck accelerated.
The Bystander’s Capture
A nearby bystander recorded most of the confrontation. The footage shows the father chasing the tow truck through the lot and onto a busy main road. As the truck accelerated, the daughter fell out of the vehicle and onto the street, her small body skidding across the asphalt.
The Child’s Injury
The 4-year-old was found in active traffic, but the father quickly scooped her up and brought her back to safety. She sustained only superficial injuries, including a minor abrasion on her knee and a small cut on her arm. She was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation, where medical staff confirmed the injuries were minor and she was released after observation.
Witness Confirmation
Multiple witnesses corroborated the father’s account. They reported hearing him yelling for his daughter from across the parking lot. The affidavit from Broward County notes that these statements were consistent with the video evidence, and that no other individuals were present to dispute the father’s claims.
Surveillance Findings
Surveillance video revealed that the tow truck driver, identified as 34-year-old Sergio Suarez of Hialeah, began towing the car without ever exiting his truck or checking for occupants. Despite being alerted about the child, Suarez continued to drive away, leaving the vehicle and the child unattended on the road.
Suarez’s Return
At the police’s request, Suarez returned to the parking lot. He dropped the car off away from the scene and tried to leave again before officers stopped him. The driver admitted to towing the vehicle without verifying its contents, and he expressed regret for not checking the interior.
Suarez’s Admission
Suarez claimed he continued driving when the father started banging on his window because he thought he might “become aggressive,” the affidavit states. He acknowledged that he did not check for anyone inside before towing, and that his decision to drive on was a mistake.
Legal Charge
The Sunrise Police Department took Suarez into custody. He was charged with child negligence, a third-degree felony. The charge reflects the seriousness of leaving a child unattended in a vehicle that is being towed, and it carries potential penalties of up to five years in prison.
Key Takeaways
- The incident occurred on Dec. 14 in Sunrise, Fla., involving a tow truck driver and a 4-year-old girl.
- The father’s pleas were captured on video, showing the child falling as the truck moved.
- The tow truck driver, Sergio Suarez, admitted to towing without checking for occupants and was charged with a third-degree felony.
- Witnesses confirmed the father’s story, and surveillance footage supported the claim that the driver did not verify the vehicle’s interior.
- The child sustained only superficial injuries and was evaluated at a nearby hospital, where she was released after observation.
The case underscores the critical importance of ensuring no child remains inside a vehicle during towing operations. Authorities are reviewing procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future, and the incident has prompted local discussions about towing regulations and child safety protocols.
