Amazon Driver’s Incident in Venezuela Ignites Public Fury and Legal Charges

A Venezuelan migrant working as an Amazon delivery driver struck a Florida mother and her baby, then fled the scene, sparking outrage and legal action.

At a Glance

An Amazon driver hit a mother pushing her 4-month-old in a stroller, causing severe injuries.
The driver, a Venezuelan migrant, briefly stopped but fled the scene.
The mother suffered a catastrophic brain injury; the baby was thrown into the street.
The driver was arrested but released on bond, sparking further controversy.
The incident has raised questions about delivery company safety standards and immigration policies.

Shocking Hit-and-Run Incident Rocks Florida Community

A peaceful morning in the Ives Estates community outside Miami turned tragic when an Amazon delivery driver collided with a mother pushing her 4-month-old infant in a stroller. The driver, identified as Sarahy Parra-Ovalles, a Venezuelan migrant, allegedly struck the mother, dragging her onto the front of the car. In a disturbing turn of events, Parra-Ovalles briefly stopped, propped the stroller back up, placed the baby back in the seat, and then fled the scene.

The incident, which occurred around 8:30 a.m. on Thursday in the Isles Estates neighborhood, left the community in shock. Surveillance video captured Parra-Ovalles making deliveries in a 2022 Hyundai SUV before the collision at the intersection of NE 7th Avenue and NE 191st Street.

Venezuelan migrant Amazon driver ‘runs over’ mom pushing baby in stroller — leaving her with ‘catastrophic’ injuries https://t.co/7NHXhm7cXi pic.twitter.com/ZMkylIAIiq

— New York Post (@nypost) August 27, 2024

Severe Injuries and Legal Consequences

The mother suffered what family lawyer Judd Rosen described as “a catastrophic brain injury, a broken skull and a brain bleed.” The infant sustained a laceration on his forehead. Both victims were rushed to the hospital, with the mother now at home recovering.

“This is a terrible incident and our thoughts are with this family. We’re looking into the matter and will support law enforcement as they investigate,” – Amazon spokesperson

Parra-Ovalles was arrested on charges of leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury and leaving the scene of a crash without serious bodily injury. However, her quick release on bond has sparked further outrage in the community and from the family’s legal representation.

Immigration Status and Work Authorization

The incident has brought attention to immigration policies and work authorization procedures. Parra-Ovalles reportedly entered the US on a tourist visa in 2019, which expired in 2021. She was subsequently granted Temporary Protected Status in 2021, allowing her to apply for a work permit. This status was part of a broader Biden administration initiative that granted TPS to hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan nationals, permitting them to remain and work in the United States.

The incident has raised questions about the vetting process for delivery drivers and the potential risks associated with the rapid expansion of delivery services. Judd Rosen, the family’s lawyer, criticized delivery and rideshare companies like Amazon and Uber for allegedly compromising safety standards to increase delivery speed.

Ongoing Investigation and Potential Legal Action

As the investigation continues, Amazon has stated that Parra-Ovalles is no longer delivering on their behalf and that they are cooperating fully with law enforcement. The family’s lawyer has indicated plans to bring up Parra-Ovalles’ driving record, which includes two prior infractions that were dismissed, in any future lawsuits against Amazon.

This tragic incident has left the community enraged and demanding justice for the victims. It has also ignited a broader conversation about road safety, corporate responsibility, and the complexities of immigration policies in the United States. As the legal process unfolds, many are calling for stricter measures to prevent such occurrences in the future and ensure the safety of pedestrians in residential areas.