Maykoll Santiesteban, the 15-year-old teenager who caused a fatal accident in Hialeah on April 24, resulting in the deaths of two women of Cuban origin, will be tried as an adult. Authorities confirmed this decision on Tuesday after a judge ruled to transfer him from juvenile court to adult court to face charges for the deaths of the two women, according to a report by Local 10.
Santiesteban faces a total of six charges, including vehicular homicide, reckless driving causing serious bodily injury, and driving with a suspended license.
The victims of this tragic accident were identified as Yarina García Hernández, 39, and her aunt Gloria Esther Hernández, 71. Also in the car was Liliana Hernández Molina, Yarina's 65-year-old mother, who is currently in critical condition at a Miami hospital.
The women were out shopping when their car was struck by a speeding truck driven by two teenagers, aged 14 and 15.
Osmeide Rodríguez, the son of Gloria Esther Hernández, told América TeVé during a tribute to the deceased that he could not comprehend "what is happening, I am not in a condition to speak. The family is preparing a statement that we want to share, because this is really something that cannot go unpunished."
Regarding the teenager responsible for the crash, Rodríguez specified, "We know he is a minor; everyone sympathizes because he is a minor, but he is old enough to understand what he was doing."
According to police statements, just seconds before the impact, the teenager was driving the vehicle at 83 miles per hour, which is more than 50 miles over the speed limit at the intersection.
Legal Consequences and Public Reaction to Hialeah Accident
The following questions and answers address the legal and public implications of the tragic accident in Hialeah.
What charges is Maykoll Santiesteban facing?
Maykoll Santiesteban is facing six charges, including vehicular homicide, reckless driving causing serious bodily injury, and driving with a suspended license.
Who were the victims of the Hialeah accident?
The victims were Yarina García Hernández, 39, and her aunt Gloria Esther Hernández, 71. Yarina's mother, Liliana Hernández Molina, 65, is currently in critical condition.
How fast was the teenager driving at the time of the accident?
The teenager was driving at 83 miles per hour, which is over 50 miles above the speed limit for that intersection.
What did Osmeide Rodríguez say about the accident?
Osmeide Rodríguez expressed his inability to comprehend the situation and emphasized that the incident must not go unpunished, despite the driver's age.