Authorities in Palm Beach County say a Boynton Beach driver turned a busy intersection into the scene of an alleged scam, deliberately ramming another car, then trying to pass it off as an accident for an insurance payout.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as 31‑year‑old Van Staeven Ceron. He was booked earlier this week and is now facing a stack of charges tied to the February crash and what investigators describe as an insurance‑fraud scheme. The case lands as South Florida law enforcement is paying closer attention to suspected staged collisions.
According to CBS12, deputies say the crash happened on Feb. 22 at about 11:13 a.m. at the intersection of Woolbright Road and El Clair Ranch Road. Investigators allege Ceron accelerated, changed lanes and then deliberately steered into another driver’s vehicle. Surveillance video reportedly captured the maneuver.
The victim reported neck and back pain, according to the sheriff’s office account, and more than $12,000 in damage. Both vehicles had to be towed from the intersection. Investigators say State Farm told detectives Ceron later filed a claim saying the wreck was unintentional, and detectives now say they have probable cause to believe the collision was staged.
Ceron was booked into the Palm Beach County jail and faces charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, false and fraudulent insurance claim, insurance fraud, criminal mischief and reckless driving.
Charges and Legal Exposure
Aggravated battery with a deadly weapon is a felony of the second degree under Florida Statute 784.045, a charge that can bring significant prison time if prosecutors secure a conviction.
Florida’s law on false and fraudulent insurance claims, outlined in Florida Statute 817.234, makes it a crime to knowingly file deceptive claims, and it also gives insurers civil remedies if fraud is proven.
Prosecutors still have to file formal charges and then prove the case in court. An arrest and booking do not constitute guilt, and Ceron is presumed innocent unless and until he is convicted.
A Pattern Investigators Are Watching
Law enforcement agencies across South Florida have recently been sounding the alarm about staged‑crash schemes tied to insurance fraud.
In a March case out of Sunny Isles Beach, for example, surveillance video reportedly showed a vehicle being intentionally crashed for insurance money, according to Local 10. That investigation has underscored concerns among detectives about coordinated schemes involving staged collisions.
Ceron remains in custody and his case will move through the Palm Beach County courts, where records and future filings will show whether prosecutors add or adjust charges. Officials have not released details beyond the sheriff’s office account that has been reported by local media.
