Woman fatally struck by SUV while standing at bus stop in Lauderhill

Crash shuts down portion of State Road 7

LAUDERHILL, Fla. – A woman who was standing at a bus stop in Lauderhill was killed Thursday afternoon when an SUV slammed into her.

Surveillance video from Dutch Pot Jamaican Restaurant showed the fatal crash that shut down a portion of State Road 7. 

The video showed a black SUV slam into two women who were standing on the sidewalk along State Road 7 near Northwest 12th Street.

Helaine Elize was pronounced dead at the scene, Lauderhill police Lt. Mike Santiago said. The other woman struck by the SUV was identified as Elsiane Tulisse. 

The video showed the SUV hit two other people sitting on bus benches before coming to a stop after crashing into a utlity pole.

Witnesses said they saw two vehicles driving erratically, causing a chain-reaction crash. They said the impact forced one driver to slam into the women at the bus stop.

Santiago said the vehicles were driving "recklessly."

Cellphone video showed the graphic aftermath of the crash. A woman was pinned between a bus bench and the SUV.

The Lauderhill Fire Rescue Department said two people were taken to Broward Health Medical Center in critical condition.

Santiago said all but one vehicle involved in the crash remained at the scene. That vehicle was a red 2005 Dodge Neon with Florida license plate HGK-S80. The car is described as having a black trunk with black rims. 

Anyone with information is asked to call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.


About the Authors:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.

Sanela Sabovic joined Local 10 News in September 2012 as an assignment editor and associate producer. In August 2015, she became a full-time reporter and fill-in traffic reporter. Sanela holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications with a concentration in radio, television and film from DePaul University.