MIRAMAR, Fla. – A Miramar man appeared in bond court Thursday, a day after he turned himself in to authorities in a hit-and-run crash that injured a 7-year-old boy.
Broward County Judge Michael Davis told Milton Walker, 63, that he appreciated that Walker contacted police after the Nov. 20 incident and then turned himself in on Wednesday.
Walker faces charges of failure to stop and remain at an accident involving serious injury, failure to report information of an injured person and failure of a driver to make a written report.
He was granted a $5,000 bond.
Miramar police said Walker struck Jayden McFarlane as the boy was riding his bicycle near his home on Tropicana Street.
Walker, who lives on the same street, never stopped, authorities said.
"I don't think he knew what he hit at the time," Walker's attorney, Terry Moons, said. "The first time he became aware of what had happened, he reached out to us. We got in contact with law enforcement, and he immediately surrendered. He brought the van in, he gave a written statement less than 24 hours (later). When he realized what had happened, he said, 'Oh my God.'"
Jayden's mother told Local 10 News that she has prayed every day since the incident for an arrest to be made. She said she is not sure whether she will be able to forgive Walker for his actions.
"If he had stayed at the scene, I think I could have," McFarlane said. "But the fact that you left him there, like he has no family, no value, like he's nothing ... I don't know about forgiveness right now."
Jayden suffered a brain injury and broken collarbone, but he is expected to make a full recovery.
Walker is only allowed to drive now for "life-sustaining activities," such as driving to and from work, to church and to medical appointments.