Wilton Manors, Florida — A Florida driver has been sentenced to 73 years in prison after pleading no contest in a crash that claimed the lives of three children and seriously injured three others when his vehicle left the roadway and struck a group of youngsters walking on a sidewalk.
The sentencing brings a legal conclusion to a case that devastated families and the South Florida community following the deadly collision in December 2021.
Driver Sentenced After Pleading No Contest
According to Broward County court records, Sean Greer entered a no-contest plea to multiple charges, including three counts of vehicular homicide and three counts of leaving the scene of a crash involving death.
The charges stem from a crash that killed:
- Andrea Fleming, 6
- Paris Jones, 5
- Laziyah “Minnie” Stukes, 9
The judge sentenced Greer to 73 years in state prison, according to local reports.
Crash Happened as Children Walked on Sidewalk
Authorities said the collision occurred on the afternoon of Dec. 27, 2021, along the 2400 block of Powerline Road in Wilton Manors, just north of Fort Lauderdale.
Investigators said six children were walking on the sidewalk when Greer, driving a 2009 Honda Accord, approached a Broward County Transit bus that had stopped to drop off a passenger.
According to investigators, Greer attempted to pass the bus as it began merging back into traffic.
Officials allege the maneuver caused the vehicle to leave the roadway and travel onto the sidewalk, where it struck all six children.
Police said the driver then accelerated away from the scene instead of stopping to help. Andrea Fleming and Paris Jones died shortly after the collision.
Laziyah Stukes remained hospitalized with critical injuries before later dying in July 2022. Three other children survived the crash.
Investigation Led Detectives to Suspect
Investigators said debris left at the crash scene helped identify the vehicle involved.
Authorities later located Greer’s Honda Accord and reported that the vehicle displayed damage consistent with the collision, including a missing front bumper that had been recovered at the scene.
Court documents also described statements from a neighbor who told investigators Greer arrived home shortly after the crash and allegedly admitted he had been involved in a serious incident.
According to investigators, the witness said Greer remarked:
“I f—ed up, and my bumper came off and caused a crash.”
The witness also claimed Greer asked that police not be told where the vehicle was located.
The following day, Broward County Sheriff’s deputies interviewed Greer.
According to investigators, he acknowledged driving home after attempting to pass a county bus but claimed he believed he had struck a pole.
Authorities also stated that Greer’s driver’s license had been suspended since 2016.
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Families Deliver Emotional Statements in Court
During sentencing, relatives of the victims described the devastating impact the crash continues to have on their lives.
Laziyah’s mother, Devera Stukes, directly addressed Greer during her victim impact statement.
“No one cares about your upbringing. Our children were not on Powerline Road but on the sidewalk.”
The father of one of the surviving children also expressed frustration during the hearing before leaving the courtroom.
“He almost killed my son.”
Case Brings Legal Closure, But Families Continue to Grieve
Although the sentencing concludes the criminal proceedings, family members continue to cope with the lasting emotional pain caused by the crash.
The case also serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences that reckless driving and fleeing the scene of a collision can have on victims, families, and entire communities.
For those who lost loved ones, the sentence marks accountability in court, but it cannot undo the lives forever changed by the tragedy.
What are your thoughts on penalties for fatal hit-and-run crashes? Do you believe current laws provide appropriate accountability in cases involving reckless driving? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments below.