2 Kids Hurt In Miami Gardens Police Chase
MIAMI GARDENS (CBSMiami) - Two five year old boys are in intensive care after they were mowed over by a car allegedly fleeing from police.
The boys' great grandfather told CBS4's Peter D'Oench that the kids were in the front yard of a home at 15640 NW 39th Place early Sunday night when the suspect, Giovanni Lloyd, 18, drove into the yard and knocked down a mailbox and several cars before hitting the children.
"How it didn't kill them, I don't know," said the victims' great grandfather James Ridley.
The boys were cousins, identified by family members as Jermaine Morrell Jr. and Willie Evans Jr.
Morrell is suffering from a fractured foot and arm, and bruises on his leg. Evans reportedly has a concussion, lacerated liver, and a wound to the head.
"I'm worried. He has a big bump on his head and blood on his brain," said Morrell's mother Temeka Lee.
Police say Lloyd was speeding through the neighborhood in a stolen car. After the accident, Lloyd allegedly fled the scene on foot but was later arrested. He faces charges of eluding police and leaving the scene of an accident with injuries. He was released after posting the $26,000 bond.
The victim's parents believe the authorities are partly to blame for injuries to the children.
"I think if Miami Gardens Police were not speeding, my son would be OK and he would not be in the hospital right now and the situation wouldn't have happened," said Willie Evans Sr.
A police spokesperson said the officers did everything by the book by driving no faster than 40 miles per hour, keeping their distance from the suspect, and allowed a perimeter to be set up. They also noted that Lloyd had seven prior arrests.
