An 82-year-old Florida woman struck a 7-year-old boy on an electric scooter, fled the scene leaving him with a broken femur and brain injury, then blamed the child for the collision she caused.
Story Snapshot
- Karina Pubchara-Martinez hit a supervised child on a scooter in Miami-Dade’s Westchester neighborhood on January 10, 2026, fleeing without rendering aid
- The 7-year-old suffered catastrophic injuries including a brain lesion, broken femur, acute head trauma, and requires ongoing medical monitoring
- Investigators used cellphone data and surveillance footage to track down the driver, who kept her damaged vehicle unrepaired for weeks
- After surrendering February 10, Pubchara-Martinez told media “they didn’t stop… and they hit me,” deflecting responsibility despite facing felony charges
Hit-and-Run Devastates Young Victim and Family
Karina Pubchara-Martinez struck a 7-year-old boy riding his electric scooter on the sidewalk near Southwest 32nd Street in Miami-Dade County’s Westchester neighborhood on January 10, 2026, around noon. The child’s mother, a full-time nurse who was supervising her son outside their home, witnessed the collision that left her boy unable to move in the county swale. Pubchara-Martinez drove away westbound without stopping, leaving behind front bumper debris from her silver 2009-2011 Toyota Camry. Surveillance cameras captured the fleeing vehicle as the mother rushed to her critically injured son’s side.
Emergency responders transported the boy to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with devastating injuries: an acute head injury, brain lesion, closed displaced subtrochanteric fracture of his right femur, extensive bruising, and lacerations. The severity of these injuries raises serious questions about long-term developmental impacts for a child whose only mistake was playing outside under his parent’s watchful eye. The mother now faces mounting medical bills and lost income as she pauses her nursing career to care for her son, prompting friends and family to establish a donation page for financial support.
Technology and Investigation Identify Fleeing Driver
Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office investigators pieced together evidence that led them to Pubchara-Martinez’s residence on January 22, 2026. Debris from the crash scene matched damage on her silver Toyota Camry, which remained unrepaired in the twelve days following the collision. Cellphone location data confirmed Pubchara-Martinez’s presence at the crash site and tracked her flight path away from the injured child. The combination of physical evidence, surveillance video, and digital forensics left no doubt about the driver’s identity and her decision to flee rather than help a critically injured child.
Pubchara-Martinez surrendered voluntarily to authorities on February 10, 2026, invoking her right to remain silent during initial questioning. She faced charges for leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury, a felony offense. At her February 11 court appearance, a judge released her on $7,500 bond with an order prohibiting her from driving. This remarkably lenient bond for someone who left a child with life-threatening injuries raises concerns about accountability in our justice system, particularly when vulnerable victims and their families suffer devastating consequences.
Driver Deflects Blame Despite Evidence
Following her release, Pubchara-Martinez spoke to WTVJ media, offering statements that combined regret with blame-shifting. She told reporters, “I was passing through and they didn’t stop… and they hit me. But I left, so I’m worse.” While acknowledging her flight was wrong, she maintained the collision occurred because the boy failed to stop, contradicting evidence showing the child was on the sidewalk when struck. Her claim that nervousness caused her to flee does nothing to excuse abandoning a severely injured child who lay helpless and in agony.
The victim’s mother expressed disbelief at the driver’s actions, stating simply, “I don’t understand how someone can hit a child and not stop.” Her son continues recovering at home but faces a long road ahead with ongoing MRI scans and head monitoring. The boy cannot perform normal activities, and his mother emphasizes that his head injury remains the most critical concern. This case exemplifies a troubling erosion of personal responsibility and basic human decency—values that once formed the bedrock of American communities where neighbors looked out for one another, especially the most vulnerable among us.
Broader Implications for Community Safety
This incident raises legitimate questions about driver competency standards, particularly for elderly motorists whose reflexes and decision-making may be compromised. At 82 years old, Pubchara-Martinez’s choice to flee rather than face consequences suggests either impaired judgment or a shocking disregard for a child’s life. Florida lawmakers should examine whether current licensing renewal procedures adequately protect public safety. The Westchester community now faces heightened anxiety about children’s safety on sidewalks and residential streets where families should feel secure. Parents supervising their children deserve confidence that drivers will exercise basic caution and moral responsibility.
Sources:
Elderly Florida Woman Hits 7-Year-Old on Scooter and Flees, Blames Him for Crash – CrimeOnline
Miami-Dade Senior Accused of Hit-and-Run That Seriously Injured Boy on Electric Scooter – Local10
Elderly Woman Charged in Hit-and-Run Leaving Child Hospitalized – National Today
