Atlanta Braves player's wife, kids injured in southwest Miami-Dade crash

Sean Rodriguez's wife, kids passengers in SUV struck by stolen police cruiser

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – The wife and children of an Atlanta Braves player were injured when a stolen Miami-Dade police cruiser crashed into their SUV Saturday afternoon in southwest Miami-Dade County.

Miami-Dade police said Giselle Rodriguez and her two children were passengers in a 2016 Chevrolet Suburban that was struck by a stolen police cruiser at Southwest 24th Street and Southwest 99th Avenue.

The Atlanta Braves confirmed Sunday that Rodriguez is the wife of second baseman Sean Rodriguez, who was driving the SUV.

Detective Daniel Ferrin said the driver stole the police car from an officer at Southwest 16th Street and Southwest 107th Avenue.

The officer was called to the Natural Chicken Grill restaurant about a suspicious briefcase left behind by two customers.

The driver of the stolen Ford Crown Victoria sideswiped a 2012 Honda Civic before he lost control and crashed into the Rodriguez family's SUV. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Giselle Rodriguez, wife of Atlanta Braves second baseman Sean Rodriguez, was injured in a crash involving a stolen Miami-Dade police cruiser.

Cellphone video captured the fiery aftermath.

"He went sideways over the median, hit a car and went right through that car and hit the SUV that was on the opposite direction," a witness, identified as Pablo, said.

Giselle Rodriguez was taken to Kendall Regional Medical Center. The children, Sean Rodriguez Jr., 8, and Zikiel Rodriguez, 2, were taken to Nicklaus Children's Hospital. All three were listed in serious but stable condition.

A relative told Local 10 News that the victims suffered several broken bones, but are expected to be fine.

Sean Rodriguez, who grew up in Miami, was a third-round draft pick of the Angels in 2003. He played for the Angels, Tampa Bay Rays and Pittsburgh Pirates before signing a two-year, $11.5 million contract with the Braves in November.

The identity of the suspect who was driving the stolen police cruiser hasn't been released.

Sean Rodriguez wasn't injured in the crash.


About the Authors:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.