Apr 8, 2008 4:10 pm US/Eastern
Sunrise Hit & Run Driver Is Arrested
SUNRISE, Fla. (CBS4) ―
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Child rushed to Broward hospital after crossing a neighborhood street in Sunrise.
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Charles Vincent Sanford allegedly confessed to being involved in the hit and run accident.
CBS
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Jermaine McLymont was allegedly caught fixing the car used in the hit and run accident that killed the 4-year-old girl in Sunrise.
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Investigators said Veronica Ford, was hit after she exited a small community transport bus with her mother.
CBS
A memorial to a life lost too young now rests in the front yard of a Sunrise home, but the mother of 4-year-old Veronica Ford breathed a sigh of relief Monday night after police announced the arrest of the alleged hit and run driver who killed her daughter.
Last Friday, 20-year old Benita Desir and her daughter Veronica Ford had just gotten off a bus as they came home from a McDonald's near their home in the 6000 block of Northwest 16th Place when the girl was hit by a car. Veronica was rushed to Broward General Medical Center, but doctors were unable to save her.
Mario Langley saw the accident and rushed to the girl's side.
"And the car hit the girl really hard, and he took off and he didn't bother to stop," said Langley.
As the girl's family was preparing her funeral arrangements Monday, police announced the arrest of 18-year-old Charles Vincent Sanford of Sunrise in connection to the case. Police said they made the arrest after receiving a tip that a local tow yard was fixing a Dodge Magnum, with front end damage, which fit the description of the car involved.
Also arrested in connection with the case was Jermaine McLymont, an employee at Mack's tow yard, where the car was found. Police charged him with tampering with evidence and resisting arrest without violence for his role in attempting to fix and repaint the Dodge Magnum. McLymont was allegedly in the process of fixing the vehicle when the car was seized.
Cornelious McLymont, Jermaine's father, said he called authorities over the weekend after seeing the silver Dodge Magnum. He told
CBS4 Sharrie Williams, "So I looked around the car, and I saw the roof and fender damage so I pulled it out and called police."
After his arrest, Sanford reportedly confessed to the crime.
"I can't wait to see him in court so I can tell him piece of my mind what I really felt that night… that day he did that," said Desir who admits she still has a hard time trying to grasp how someone just left her little girl there to die.
"I don't feel sorry for him at all. I just think that if they would catch him he must get the electric chair cause that's my daughter, that's my life right there," said Desir in a previous interview.
A memorial of balloons, flowers, stuffed animals, pictures and poems to Veronica now sits in the front of her home along with a box for people who would like to donate money to help pay for her funeral.
Desir said complete strangers have been stopping by, donating money to help the family bury Veronica. They were all wondering the same thing; 'Who could do something like this?'
Landlubbers Bar and Grill in Cooper City is also getting involved in helping Desir's family raise money for the young victim's funeral.
"All week 'til Sunday, a $5 contribution will get you a free appetizer and a $10 or more contribution will get you a free dinner," said Landlubbers' owner Chris Piacentino.
CBS4 Neighbors 4 Neighbors is also accepting donations on the girls behalf.
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