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David M. Benenfeld, P.A.
7800 W. Oakland Park Boulevard
Building F
Suite 216
Sunrise, FL 33351
Phone: (954) 677-0155
Fax: (954) 677-0773

Dade and Broward County Injury News

South Dade Crash Kills 3 Children

Posted on Jan 27, 2009

Three children were killed when an SUV smashed into the back of their minivan at a red light on South Dixie Highway. The driver of the SUV had a long record of traffic offenses, including driving under the influence.

Hector Serrano had loaded his children into his minivan before dawn to drop off his wife at her early shift at Jackson Memorial Hospital. On the way home from the Dadeland South Metrorail station, they were rear-ended. The minivan was crushed by the impact, killing Hector, 10, Esmaralda, 7 and Amber, 4. All three children were wearing seat belts.

Serrano sustained a broken arm, but still tried frantically to pull his children from the wreckage. However, it was too late.

“Imagine to lose your three kids,” said Serrano hours after the accident, still at the crash scene at the intersection of Dixie Highway at Southwest 211th Street.

The Jaws of Life were used by rescuers to extract Gabriel Delrisco, the 40-year-old man driving the SUV, from his black Chevrolet Trailblazer. Delrisco was flown by helicopter to the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson.

Lt. Pat Santangelo with the Florida Highway Patrol said that troopers accompanied Delrisco to the hospital to take a blood sample to determine whether alcohol or drugs were involved. He has not been charged.

According to Miami-Dade traffic records, Delrisco has been stopped and ticketed 20 times since 2001. He was convicted of one criminal traffic infraction, driving under the influence in 2001. As a result of that traffic offense, his license was suspended for six months. He has also been ticketed for reckless driving, speeding, failure to stop at a traffic light and crossing a median. However, many of his violations were dismissed or a judge withheld adjudication.

The impact of the collision forced the minivan into the intersection. The rear of the minivan was “crushed…giving the rear seat passengers no chance of survival,” said Santangelo.

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David M. Benenfeld, P.A.
7800 W. Oakland Park Boulevard
Building F
Suite 216
Sunrise, FL 33351
Phone: (954) 677-0155
Fax: (954) 677-0773
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