Driver identified in fatal Deerfield Beach crash

Deputies: Shirley Coto was driver of car with 4 children inside

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. – Investigators have identified the driver of a vehicle involved in a Deerfield Beach crash that killed a 6-year-old girl and hurt three other children, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office.

It happened before 4 p.m. Thursday in the 200 block of West Hillsboro Boulevard, in front of the Bazaar supermarket.

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Deputies said Shirley Coto, 38, of Deerfield Beach, was the driver of a Nissan Altima in which four children, ages 4 to 11, were passengers.

Investigators said Coto was heading south into the supermarket's parking lot when the Altima collided with an eastbound Ford Ranger pickup driven by Marcelo Verly, 22, of Deerfield Beach.

Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue took Coto and the children to Broward Health Medical Center, where the 6-year-old girl died a short time later, deputies said.

One other child remains in extremely critical condition and two others are in serious condition, but have stabilized, according to BSO. Coto was treated and released.

Verly and a passenger inside his truck were not seriously hurt and remained at the scene, deputies said.

It appeared that at least some of the children were not properly restrained, deputies said.

Coto does not have a Florida driver license, according to BSO. Local 10 News has learned Coto has previously been cited for charges including operating without a valid license, driving license suspended, disobey or ran a stop sign, and failure to register a vehicle.

No one has been cited in Thursday's crash, which remains under investigation, deputies said.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call Traffic Homicide Detective Anthony Morales at 954-321-4840 or report information anonymously to Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477).

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