A tow truck driver in Florida has been charged with a serious felony after towing a vehicle while a young child was still inside, leading to a terrifying chase and the girl falling into a busy roadway.
A Father's Desperate Chase
The incident occurred on December 14 outside the Bistro Creole Restaurant in Sunrise, Florida. According to police reports and witness accounts, a father had left his four-year-old daughter alone in his parked car for what he said was just two minutes. The vehicle was stationed in a fire lane. During that brief window, 34-year-old Sergio Suarez, a driver for All-Ways Towing & Storage, arrived to haul the car away.
Surveillance footage showed the distressed father inside the restaurant spotting the tow truck. He immediately ran outside and began pounding on the truck's window, frantically trying to inform Suarez that his daughter was in the back seat. An arrest report obtained by media outlets stated that Suarez allegedly ignored these pleas because he thought the man 'might become aggressive'.
Instead of stopping, Suarez drove off with the car still attached. The horrified father gave chase on foot, screaming, 'My daughter is in the car'. Witnesses described the panicked scene to local news. In a desperate attempt, the father managed to yank open the rear door of his own sedan as it was being towed.
The Child's Fall and Aftermath
The situation escalated dangerously when it became clear the driver would not stop. The arrest report states the father then 'observed his daughter fall out of the vehicle and into the roadway' on West Oakland Park Boulevard. Some witnesses reported the little girl may have jumped out to escape the moving vehicle.
The father rushed into traffic, scooped his daughter from the road, and moved her to safety. The child sustained 'superficial injuries' to her arms and leg, described as scrapes and bruises. She was taken to hospital for treatment, and her father later confirmed she was recovering well.
Authorities stated that even after the child fell out, Suarez continued driving away. Police eventually contacted his towing company and instructed him to return the vehicle to the restaurant. Officers reported that Suarez tried to drop off the car and flee but was quickly arrested.
Legal Consequences and Conflicting Claims
During the investigation, Sergio Suarez allegedly admitted to officers that he failed to check the car for passengers before towing it. He also reportedly divulged that he had 'received multiple calls' from his company alerting him that someone was in the vehicle, but claimed he pulled over to check and found it empty.
When Suarez appeared in court on December 15, his attorney offered a different account, stating the defendant checked the vehicle 'three times and there was no child inside'. The lawyer added, 'He doesn't know how it came about.'
Despite these claims, Suarez was arrested and charged with child neglect without great bodily harm, a third-degree felony. He was released after posting a $10,000 bond and was advised to avoid driving until further notice. It remains unclear whether the girl's father will face any charges for leaving her unattended.
