POMPANO BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - A pedestrian was killed and a driver was taken to the hospital following a violent crash near a bus stop in Pompano Beach.
Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies and Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue units responded to the scene of the crash along South Federal Highway, near Southeast Ninth Street, at around 1 p.m. on Tuesday.
“In reference to a vehicle flipped over,” said a dispatcher in radio transmissions.
According to detectives, the driver of a white BMW was traveling southbound on South Federal Highway when she rear-ended a 2017 Honda Accord along the 500 block.
Investigators said the driver of the BMW, later identified as 47-year-old Jo Anne Llera, maneuvered her car around the Honda and continued southbound.
Moments later, detectives said, Llera veered off the roadway and drifted onto a swale and fatally struck the pedestrian near a covered bus bench. It’s unclear whether the victim was sitting on the bench or standing nearby.
“It sounded like an explosion. I’ve never heard anything like that in my life,” said a witness who identified himself as Mark.
Authorities said Llera then struck two light poles, a tree and several unoccupied vehicles on the lot of an auto dealership located near the bus stop.
“It was like dynamite going off, and we knew something was wrong right away,” said Mark.
911 calls revealed witnesses reactions to the crash after it unfolded.
“Oh my god, oh my God, on McNab, it’s just north of McNab and I’m so sorry, I’m so frazzled,” said a witness to a dispatcher.
No one was home at Llera’s Garden Isles address, but Llera’s neighbors shared their thoughts on the crash.
“Knowing her, she’s not going to be speeding,” said Patti, a neighbor. “It’s horrible, I just pray for the person who passed, and one minute you’re here and the next minute you’re gone, so it’s kinda hard for me to wrap my head around it.”
7News cameras captured the bus shelter destroyed, along with mangled metal and glass littered across the street.
Investigators said the initial call was that three people were involved, but when crews arrived, they quickly realized that the driver of the white sedan was the only other person needing assistance.
“Rescue 24’s arrival, floor heavy damage. We got one single seven on scene. We’re going to need an extrication, and we got a third person we’re trying to find,” said a first responder in radio transmissions.
The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene. Llera was transported to Broward Health North with injuries that were not life-threatening.
“It’s horrific. I’ve never seen so much damage to one car,” said Mark.
Deputies shut down the southbound lanes of South Federal Highway between Southeast Ninth Street and Southeast 12th Street for six and a half hours as they assessed the extensive damage, but it has since reopened to traffic.
Investigators said debris from the crash struck a 2010 Lincoln Town Car that was traveling southbound on South Federal Highway, as well as nine unoccupied vehicles on the dealership lot.
Wednesday afternoon, the sidewalk and bus stop were still cordoned off by crime scene tape.
Bus riders who spoke with 7News said the crash has left them feeling uneasy.
“As a person who waits at the bus stop, it worries me. Yeah, it could have been me ’cause, like, I come off at this stop,” said Amanda Nicholas.
Although the covered bus bench was destroyed, Broward Transit buses are still stopping at the bus stop.
As of Wednesday afternoon, it remains unclear whether or not Llera will face any charges. Detectives have not identified the pedestrian who was killed, as their investigation continues.
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