NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - Police are investigating after, they said, a driver slammed into a school in Northwest Miami-Dade while driving under the influence.
Miami-Dade Police and Fire Rescue units responded to the scene of the crash at Dr. Henry W. Mack / West Little River K-8 Center, near Northwest 84th Street and 24th Avenue, at around 6 a.m., Saturday.
Investigators said a black SUV slammed into the side of the building, leaving the driver trapped inside the vehicle.
Area resident Tony Grace said he heard the crash.
“We heard a loud boom. Next thing we know we saw a car over at the school,” he said.
Had this horrific crash occured during school day, outcome may have been much different. Thankful students/teachers were spared. Arrangements will be made to accommodate children whose classrooms were damaged. Drunk driver crashes into @MDCPS school. https://t.co/7UROIbfgzR
— Alberto M. Carvalho (@LAUSDSup) November 16, 2019
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s Technical Rescue Team worked to cut open the vehicle so they could remove the driver.
“It took them a long time, I can tell you that much,” said Grace. “It took them at least over an hour to try to get him out of there.”
A woman who also asked not to be identified said the loud sound startled her out of bed.
“I was asleep, and I heard the boom, like a screeching noise,” she said, “and I got up fast, thinking somebody hit the fence.”
The woman said she believes she saw the same SUV before it crashed, parked briefly across the street from her house. She said she had never seen the vehicle in the neighborhood before.
“Then I saw him take off, and the car was smoking in the back, and it just sped away down the street,” she said.
Neighbors said the man behind the wheel drove on his rim several blocks.
7News cameras followed the vehicle’s trail of marks, which went on for a mile through the neighborhood, ending at the school.
“Me and my neighbors over there, we rushed to see if we could get him out, but he was crushed inside the car there with the steering wheel pressed against him,” said Grace.
Paramedics airlifted the driver to Ryder Trauma Center. As of Saturday night, he is listed in critical condition.
“We tried to help him the best we could, but we know he was hurt bad,” said Grace.
According to police, the motorist was intoxicated at the time of the crash.
Fortunately, school was not in session at the time. In a tweet posted Saturday afternoon, Miami-Dade Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said, “Had this horrific crash occurred during school day, outcome may have been much different. Thankful students/teachers were spared.”
A spokesperson for Miami-Dade County Public Schools said a pre-kindergarten classroom and a kindergarten classroom were damaged as a result of the crash. The 40 students affected will be relocated to other classroom while crews make repairs.
As of late Saturday night, police have not identified the driver, as they continue to investigate the crash.
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