WINTER PARK, Florida (AP) – The man authorities say fled after causing a deadly crash at a Florida day care center has surrendered.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office says 26-year-old Robert Alex Corchado surrendered Thursday at the county jail.
Police agencies across the state had been searching for Corchado since the Wednesday crash that killed a 4-year-old girl and injured 14 other people, most of them children. Florida Highway Patrol even offered a $5,000 dollar reward for information leading to Corchado.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Corchado slammed into a convertible, which then smashed into the KinderCare building north of Orlando. Records show he’s been arrested eight times since 2000, including in December when he was charged with leaving the scene of another crash.
Parents are still reeling from the crash at the KinderCare in Winter Park. A memorial has been set up at the scene of the crash for all the victims involved, especially 4-year-old Lilly Quintus who died in the crash.
Parents of other victims say Lily was a lovely, happy kid, “She was one of the little girls who always said hi to him in the morning. Very sweet little girl, always said hi, always smiling. That was hard to hear.”
It was an emotional goodbye for some as they paid their respects today, “The daughter that died, is my daughters best friend. I am trying to figure out how to tell her she wont see her anymore.”
Groveland Fire Rescue is doing what it can to help the Lily’s family pay for her funeral and have even started a GoFundMe campaign.
