Couple Injured after Armed Robbery Suspect Slams into Their Car Head-on during BSO Pursuit
A Scary Scene: A Husband and Wife’s Ordeal
A husband and wife are opening up and sharing their story days after they were injured when, authorities said, an armed robbery suspect slammed into their SUV head-on during a pursuit involving Broward Sheriff’s deputies in Fort Lauderdale.
The Crash
Speaking with 7News on Friday, Juan Osorio and Gina Marie gave their account of Tuesday evening’s head-on collision.
"It was a very scary scene. I’m just glad we are alive," said Osorio.
Marie was in a daze in the immediate aftermath of the wreck.
"I don’t remember anything. I work, I do everything, but I don’t remember anything about that," she said.
The Pursuit
Minutes before impact, the couple and their 2-year-old son Maximiliano were heading home from Home Depot in their Kia Sorento. The family was traveling westbound along Sunrise Boulevard, near Interstate 95, when Osorio saw a car speeding out of control toward him.
"We see, like, some car going super fast, like fleeing, and there was a bunch of cops," he said, "and he actually went over the median. It was drizzling."
The Impact
In that moment, Osorio said, there was nothing he could do to avoid the wrong-way driver.
"I thought about going to the right, but he might push me off the interpass, thought about going left, then he might hit my kid in the back who was on the right, so I just went forward," he said. "He hit us head-on going like – I don’t know how fast, but it was pretty fast."
The Suspect
"He" is 36-year-old Cedrick Sconyers. BSO detectives said they were trying to pull him over because he was driving a car believed to have been used in a robbery earlier. Investigators said Sconyers didn’t stop. A prosecutor described the pursuit during the suspect’s court appearance.
"First he was fleeing from law enforcement on I-95. Then on Sunrise Boulevard, he tries to flee from law enforcement driving into oncoming traffic," said the prosecutor.
The Aftermath
The family said Maximiliano cracked his skull, and Osorio needed stitches on his leg. Paramedics rushed all three victims to the hospital. They have since been released and are recovering at home. Marie is covered in bruises from the crash.
"All my body hurts," she said.
The Suspect’s Arrest
BSO deputies said they had done a PIT maneuver in an attempt to prevent Sconyers from returning to I-95 prior to the crash. Sconyers was arrested, and as of Friday night, he remains in jail. He faces a list of charges, including aggravated fleeing with injury or damage and armed robbery.
Conclusion
The Osorios are just grateful that they lived to tell the tale. "Just getting rid of the pain, like, my knee hurts really bad. Just, you know, getting back on our feet," Osorio said.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happened during the pursuit?
A: The suspect, Cedrick Sconyers, was fleeing from law enforcement in a car believed to have been used in a robbery earlier. He was driving into oncoming traffic on Sunrise Boulevard when he crashed into the Osorio family’s SUV.
Q: How were the Osorios injured?
A: The family’s 2-year-old son, Maximiliano, cracked his skull, and Juan Osorio needed stitches on his leg. Gina Marie is covered in bruises from the crash.
Q: What charges does the suspect face?
A: Cedrick Sconyers faces a list of charges, including aggravated fleeing with injury or damage and armed robbery. He also has a warrant for possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an altered serial number.
