A tragic incident unfolded in Miami on Valentine's Day when a mother pushing her baby in a stroller was killed after being struck by a dump truck. The woman, identified as 33-year-old Jaklin Sabag, was crossing an intersection when the accident occurred.
According to CBS News Miami, Sabag was not using a pedestrian crosswalk when she was run over by the truck at Biscayne Boulevard and 22nd Street. The truck, which had been at a standstill due to traffic, proceeded forward without seeing her in front of it, police said. Eyewitness Juan Camilo Giron described the driver as distraught, reportedly pacing with his hands on his head upon realization of the horrific event.
The 8-month-old baby, who was in the stroller at the time of the accident, survived and was taken to Ryder Trauma Center. "I am happy to say the baby is going to be ok. He was crying," said Miami Police Department's Public Information Officer Mike Vega, in a statement obtained by CBS News Miami. The police department highlighted the importance of using designated pedestrian crosswalks to prevent such accidents, as part of their ongoing public safety awareness campaign.
Witness Tasha Insua expressed a community's grief to WSVN, urging everyone to "be aware of their surroundings" and to take more time while navigating streets. Officials confirmed that the truck driver was cooperative, and police chaplains were on scene offering comfort in these difficult moments. The accident is currently under investigation with no charges or citations filed as of now.
While the roadway has since reopened, the impact of the incident lingers. A friend of Sabag, speaking anonymously, reached out to 7News to remember her as "the kindest, sweetest, best person" they knew. Miami-Dade authorities continue to review the incident as they look for ways to improve safety measures for pedestrians in high-traffic areas.
