MIAMI GARDENS, Flo. (DDN) – Tragedy struck in Miami Gardens on Saturday evening as a multi-vehicle crash resulted in the deaths of a woman and four children, with one individual now in custody, according to officials.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue informed CBS News Miami that they attended to a significant emergency situation in the vicinity of NW 170th St. and 37th Ave. Emmanuel Jeanty, the Executive Officer of Miami Gardens Police, informed reporters that the call was received at approximately 5:57 p.m.
Authorities reported discovering a collision involving a white Nissan Altima, a black Kia Sorento, and a silver Cadillac Escalade. The incident included multiple individuals, with three people trapped inside one of the vehicles who required extraction. A total of nine individuals were transported to nearby hospitals, according to MDFR.
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Five individuals, including four children and one adult, were transported by ground to a trauma center in Hollywood, while an additional child was airlifted by rescue teams as part of trauma alerts. In the meantime, four more individuals were transported by ground to a hospital in Broward County.
Jeanty informed the press that a woman and four children lost their lives following the incident. The status of the remaining patients in the hospital has not been disclosed at this moment.
A preliminary investigation reveals that the Kia collided with the Nissan, causing it to strike the Escalade before ultimately crashing into a fence. A police officer from Opa-Locka was en route to his shift when he observed the accident unfold.
A woman and her children were in the Nissan when the driver of the Kia, identified as 25-year-old Antonio Wilcox, was determined to be at fault. He remained at the scene until police took him into custody, according to Jeanty. Authorities reported that following the incident, Wilcox opened the door on the driver’s side and collapsed.
Jeanty expressed to reporters that Saturday’s crash represented an extremely challenging moment for both the victims and the first responders, urging the community to keep them in their thoughts and prayers.
“It’s a very tough night for our community,” he said. “It’s a very tough night for our officers responding to the scene. It’s a very tough night for fire rescue personnel and our officers who have to triage the patients on scene.”
Currently, Wilcox is confronted with five charges of vehicular homicide, and the Traffic Homicide detectives from Miami Gardens Police will persist in their investigation into the details of the crash throughout the night. Jeanty indicated that both speed and alcohol played a role in the accident; nonetheless, Miami Gardens Police informed CBS News Miami that further charges are anticipated as they await the results of Wilcox’s toxicology report.
Traffic is halted on 37th Ave. between 169th and 171st Streets as the inquiry proceeds.
Reference: Woman and 4 children killed; person detained after multi-vehicle crash in Miami Gardens
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