Suspect in Florida daycare crash arrested

WINTER PARK, Fla.

Authorities have apprehended Robert Corchado, the suspected hit-and-run driver in a crash at Goldenrod Road KinderCare which claimed the life of 4-year-old Lily Quintus and injured more than a dozen others on Wednesday.

The Florida Highway Patrol confirmed about 4:30 p.m. Corchado was being processed at the Orange County Jail. According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, he turned himself in. Corchado is expected to face charges of leaving the scene of a crash causing great bodily injury and death.

At a brief news conference after Corchado was caught, FHP Major Cindy Williams said the public and law enforcement had sent the message that the fugitive could not hide, “and I think he listened and he did the right thing.”

Hours before he was caught, authorities announced a reward of up to $5,000 was being offered for information that would lead to Corchado’s arrest. Barbara Bergin of Crimeline said Thursday her organization had received about 20 tips about Corchado.

She made a plea for Corchado to turn himself in: “I do believe this community will not tolerate this,” Bergin said.

One of the public’s tips led troopers to discover Corchado’s Durango, which he abandoned after the KinderCare crash, Williams said.

At the earlier news conference, the FHP revealed Corchado has ties to the Latin Kings gang and likely had friends who helped him hide since Wednesday’s crash.

The manhunt began soon after the crash Wednesday afternoon. Authorities say Corchado was driving a Dodge Durango, when he struck a Toyota Solara, which crashed into the Winter Park day care center.

The crash injured at least 15 people, 13 of whom were taken to four area hospitals. Twelve of those hospitalized were children, including Lily, who was pronounced dead at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando.

Corchado left the Durango at a Winter Park house. The hunt for him soon moved to Orlando International Airport, where officials feared he would try to catch a flight.

He later rented a Mazda SUV, authorities said, at an Enterprise rental location in Winter Park. That vehicle became the focus of the search, with U.S. Marshals joining local authorities Thursday.

Corchado, 28, has a long criminal history.