5 pedestrians, including 2 infants, struck by car in Miami Beach

Police suspect driver may have been drinking

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. ā€“ Five pedestrians, including two infants, were hit by a car Sunday in Miami Beach, police said.

Miami Beach police spokesman Ernesto RodriguezĀ said the crash happened aboutĀ 3:30 p.m. at 18th Street and Meridian Avenue.Ā 

The pedestrians and the male driver were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. Rodriguez said Sunday night the adult victims were in stable condition, but the infants were listed in critical condition.

"We heard a big bang outside," witness Jason Terrence said.Ā 

Terrence said he ran out of his apartment and began helpingĀ the victims, including two infants and possibly their mother.

"It looked like a bomb had gone off," Terrence said.Ā 

Terrence said the children wereĀ inside a stroller when the car struck them.

"They were crying," Terrence said, relieved that they were alive.

RodriguezĀ said investigators were conductingĀ a drunken-driving investigation.

A Mercedes-Benz crashed into some palm trees along a sidewalk. The car appearedĀ to have also crashed into a metal trashcan and aĀ motor scooter.

Police closed Meridian Avenue between 17th and 18thĀ streets and advised people to use alternateĀ routes.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools SuperintendentĀ Alberto Carvalho decried the crash on Twitter.

"Families should be safe to spend their Sunday walking South Florida's streets without fear of being mowed down by an apparent drunk driver," CarvalhoĀ said. "Sending wishes of a speedy recovery to the little ones and adults involved in this."


Recommended Videos