Inset: Karina Pubchara-Martinez (WTVJ). Background: The intersection of SW 32nd Street and SW 82nd Avenue in Miami, Florida, where Pubchara-Martinez allegedly hit a 7-year-old boy on a scooter (Google Maps).
An 82-year-old woman from Florida, returning home after visiting her son’s residence, struck a young boy on an electric scooter and then left the scene, leaving the child injured by the roadside, according to police reports.
The accident took place around midday on January 10 at the intersection of SW 32nd Street and SW 82nd Avenue in Miami. According to a probable cause affidavit, the 7-year-old boy was riding his scooter with his mother following closely behind. As he attempted to cross 32nd Street, he was hit by a Toyota Camry driven by 82-year-old Karina Pubchara-Martinez. The affidavit states that Pubchara-Martinez later confessed to being the driver involved in the hit-and-run incident.
Authorities reported that Pubchara-Martinez did not stop her vehicle after the collision. When police arrived, they discovered the boy lying motionless by the side of the road. He had sustained a severe head injury, a broken femur, and multiple scrapes and bruises. Emergency medical services quickly transported him to the hospital for treatment.
After an investigation, authorities identified the vehicle involved and located it nearly two weeks later, on January 22, approximately three miles from where the accident occurred. The car showed front-end damage consistent with the collision, as noted in the affidavit.
Police were able to place Pubchara-Martinez at the crash scene using data from her cellphone. She faces charges of leaving the scene of an accident with serious injury. Pubchara-Martinez surrendered to authorities on Monday and has subsequently been released on a $7,500 bond.
Although she declined to provide a statement to investigators, Pubchara-Martinez spoke at length to local NBC affiliate WTVJ. In the interview, she appeared to hold the boy responsible for the accident, claiming he suddenly appeared in front of her vehicle as she was driving home.
“I was passing the jail when they hit me,” she told the station. “I got afraid because my glasses weren’t on my face and I ran away and that’s very bad,” she added, seemingly admitting to leaving the scene.
“I was passing through and they didn’t stop when they’re supposed to stop and they hit me,” she also said. “But I left, so I’m worse.”
Pubchara-Martinez went on to say that she was “sorry for what happened” and was praying for the well-being of the boy she hit.
Meanwhile, the boy’s mother said in an interview with WTVJ that she doesn’t understand why someone could hit a child and not stop.
“Had I not been outside, I probably would’ve found him dead or something,” the mother said.
The boy has already had numerous surgeries.
“He has a long road ahead of him,” she said.
