A Fort Myers man will not serve prison time after a Sept. 13, 2025 crash near Fort Myers Beach that ended with surveillance video of him hurling three young children over a nearly 6-foot fence while running from deputies. Two of the children were relatives and the third was his own child, according to court records reviewed by local reporters. A judge ordered one year of community control followed by four years of probation.
Crash Near Fort Myers Beach
According to a Lee County deputy, a black Infiniti was spotted allegedly driving recklessly before an attempted traffic stop near Fort Myers Beach. The vehicle spun out and crashed into a ditch at San Carlos Boulevard and Linda Loma Drive, local reports state. Witnesses told deputies the driver took off from the wreck on foot with three children in tow, accounts that helped trigger an investigation built in large part on nearby surveillance footage, as reported by FOX4.
Video, Injuries and Hospital Checks
Investigators say that video shows the man cutting across a backyard, reaching a locked gate and then tossing the children over a privacy fence measured at just under six feet, according to court records reviewed by Law&Crime. The children were later taken to a hospital for evaluation. Medical notes cited by investigators said they reported head and abdominal pain, and one child became ill while being removed from the home. Authorities also said the children appeared frightened and had visible dirt stains after being tossed over the fence.
Court Plea and Sentence
Lee County court records identify the driver as Larry Rada Jr., who pleaded no contest to charges that included child abuse, fleeing and attempting to elude law enforcement, racing on a roadway and driving with a suspended license. Prosecutors had initially filed a broader set of counts, including child neglect and cruelty, before the case was resolved with community control and probation instead of a prison term, according to Cleveland.com. Court documents cited by Cleveland.com state that Rada told investigators he knew what he did was wrong but said he feared going back to prison.
Legal Follow-Up and Oversight
The Lee County Sheriff's Office referred the case to the Florida Department of Children and Families for a parallel child-welfare review, according to local reporting. Prosecutors and court records indicate that the plea agreement closes out the criminal case but keeps Rada under formal supervision for several years while he serves community control and probation. FOX4 reported that medical exams did not reveal visible major injuries despite the children's reports of pain.
What It Means Locally
The sentence brings an official end to the county's criminal case in an incident that started with a roadside crash and unfolded into striking surveillance footage and a child-welfare probe. Residents and local advocates will now be watching whether the terms of probation and community control adequately address the safety concerns raised in the video and the court filings.
