DAVIE, Fla. – A northwest Miami-Dade woman is facing serious charges after authorities say she fled the scene of a fatal crash on Florida’s Turnpike in Davie nearly two years ago, leaving a 35-year-old man dead and another person injured.
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The crash happened just before 5 a.m. on May 10, 2023, in the northbound lanes of the Turnpike just south of Interstate 595.
The Florida Highway Patrol confirmed in an arrest report Wednesday that the crash involved three vehicles: a Toyota RAV4, a 2013 Infiniti JX, and a 2018 Freightliner truck.
Investigators said Yeliza Minelly Rodriguez, 33, was driving an Infiniti JX in the northbound outside lane next to the Toyota.
Authorities said Rodriguez lost control of her car, which began to rotate and travel northwest, hitting the right side of the Toyota.
The impact caused Rodriguez’s car to spin and crash into the median wall, while the Toyota overturned and continued sliding northeast before coming to rest upright, obstructing the inside center lane of the Turnpike the report stated.
Moments later, troopers said a Freightliner truck approached the wrecked Toyota.
Investigators believe the Toyota’s headlights were no longer operational at that point due to the severity of the crash. Unable to avoid the overturned vehicle, the truck driver hit the SUV, the report states.
Authorities said Rodriguez fled the scene on foot without calling 911 or rendering aid to the victims.
Later that day, investigators said she contacted the Broward Sheriff’s Office to report that the RAV4 had been stolen. Investigators, however, quickly uncovered evidence linking Rodriguez to the crash.
Authorities said surveillance footage, Uber records, and cellphone data all pointed to Rodriguez being the Infiniti driver. Investigators also noted that she had a fresh injury on her leg, which they said was consistent with being in a car accident.
The identity of the deceased victim has not been publicly released.
Jail records show Rodriguez is facing one count of leaving the scene of a crash involving death and one count of leaving the scene of a crash involving injury.
As of Wednesday, she remains held on a $150,000 bond at the Broward Main Jail and has been ordered to surrender her passport.
