A family is shattered, three lives are gone, and a teenager now faces the weight of his actions. Maykoll Santiesteban, just 15 years old, has pleaded guilty to a devastating crash that killed three women from the same family in April 2024. What started as a reckless joyride ended in unimaginable heartbreak.
A Night That Changed Everything
On the evening of April 23, 2024, Santiesteban took his parents’ car without permission. With two friends by his side, he sped through the streets of Hialeah, reaching 83 mph in a 30 mph zone. But in just seconds, everything changed.
As he barreled through an intersection, he slammed into a Toyota Corolla carrying 39-year-old Yarnia Garcia Hernandez, her mother Gloria Hernandez, 71, and her aunt Liliana Hernandez Molina, 66.
Yarnia and Gloria never had a chance—they died at the scene. Liliana was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, but she, too, didn’t survive. In the blink of an eye, three generations of women were gone.
A Teen Facing Adult Consequences
The severity of the crash led prosecutors to charge Santiesteban as an adult. He was charged with driving without a license and vehicular manslaughter, which are serious offenses for a young person.
Scott Kotler, his lawyer, verified the teen’s guilty plea during a recent court session. “He’s only fifteen,” Kotler remarked. “A person of that age finds it difficult to comprehend the seriousness of what has transpired.” However, comprehension does not take away the suffering for the victims’ relatives.
A Family Left Broken
Bob Garcia, a close relative, can barely put his grief into words. “We still wake up hoping this is a bad dream,” he said. “My daughter, my sister-in-law, my wife—all taken from us in one night.”
Their family gatherings will never be the same. No more shared meals, no more laughter, no more memories made. “We’re suffering every day,” Garcia said. “We just want justice.”
What Comes Next?
Santiesteban’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for February. A judge will now decide his destiny, but no amount of punishment can restore the lives lost.
This tragedy serves as a heartbreaking reminder to the bereaved family that one careless choice can quickly ruin everything.