Share this @internewscast.com

The teen driver of an SUV that crashed into a Florida playground, killing one child and seriously injuring another, has been identified.

WINK News reports that the motorist behind the fatal crash has been identified as Kiara Morant, 18, of Arcadia. According to the report, Morant had initially been charged only with driving without a valid license, and was released from jail. A WINK News reporter said in a Twitter post Friday morning that Morant has been booked back into jail with upgraded charges of a crash causing death.

The reporter also identified the girl who died as Maleena Valdez.

As CrimeOnline previously reported, Valdez, 4, died after being hit by the vehicle that crashed through fencing at the Arcadia playground this week. A 5-year-old girl was also hospitalized with serious injuries. According to the news station, Maleena Valdez died on her mother’s birthday.

A witness told WINK News that they heard children screaming, and inititally did not believe the sounds were coming from the daycare, right behind her home.

“Kids screaming and I said, ‘Well, it could be coming from our pool,’ but it was so many screams of so many kids and everything that I thought well you know there’s no way it could be coming from the pool,” neighbor Becky Stidham told the news station.

“It’s a pretty traumatic episode for all the kids seeing a vehicle just come right at them.”

CrimeOnline will provide further updates when more information is available.

[Feature image: Family photo/WINK News]

Post source: Crime Online

Source: This post first appeared on

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Lawsuit Claims SpaceX Tracked Restroom Usage of Employee with Crohn’s Disease

Launch Pad 39A, on the left, currently leased by SpaceX, alongside a…

Questioning Set for Psychiatrist of Shopping Mall Shooter

A psychiatrist’s decision to stop Joel Cauchi’s medication will be scrutinised by…

Navy Wife Operating Unlicensed Daycare Charged in Benadryl Overdose Death of Baby Girl

A Hawaii woman was sentenced last week to 20 years in prison…

Florida Teens Attacked Man Like ‘Wild Animals’: Police Report

Background: Cellphone footage allegedly capturing a group of teenagers attacking Juan Ramos…

Judge in Michigan Banned from Presiding Over Felony Cases

Kirsten Nielsen Hartig (Oakland County). A Michigan judge, reportedly with a history…

FSU Shooting Suspect Out of Hospital, Now Facing Murder Charges

The stepson of a Florida sheriff’s deputy, who was accused of shooting…

Man Found Guilty of Killing Friend During Altercation

Inset: James Brown (Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office). Background: Long Island, New…

Court Proceedings Begin in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Sex-Trafficking Case

A jury was finalized on Monday in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex-trafficking…

Sheriff Reports: Man Killed While Celebrating Mother’s Day with Mom

Inset: Charles Storey (Harris County Jail). Screengrab: Scene where Storey allegedly shot…

Police Report: Lottery Winner Pretends to Be Dead to Escape Attacker

Inset: Pablo Figueroa being escorted by police following his 2024 arrest (KPTV).…

Sheriff Describes Florida Teens’ Assault on Man as ‘Pack Animal’ Behavior

Four Florida teens were arrested last week for the “sickening” beating of…

Man Breaks Into Empty Police Station

Police were called to an unstaffed police station in Melbourne, where a…