Driver arrested in fatal Provo accident that killed child, neighbors react

PROVO, Utah (ABC4) — Earlier this afternoon, two children were hit by a car while playing, and a three-year-old died from their injuries. The driver has been arrested.

Nereyda Miranda has been arrested in connection with a fatal crash that occurred earlier today. Provo Police Department stated that Miranda had several trash bags on the windshield of the vehicle and was planning to dispose of them on her way out of the Brough Trailer Court, a small neighborhood with only 49 trailers.

Miranda allegedly struck a three-year old and a four-year-old who were reportedly stationary on the side of the road while he was repairing a bike. She remained on scene and has been booked into the Utah County Jail for Manslaughter.

Family members took the injured children to Utah Valley Hospital, where the three-year-old died from their injuries. The four-year-old was treated for minor injuries and is considered stable.

Neighbors React

Cindy Baxter was a across the street when she heard the accident. She said, “I heard a crash and then right after, I heard screaming.”

Baxter then saw the accident, “The baby was unconscious and just bleeding from the mouth profusely.”

“From what I saw, people need to pay attention. I feel like she was extremely distracted and this could have not happened, if she would’ve slowed down and paid attention to where she was going,” Baxter said.

She added that she’s seen too many close calls, “We have no speed limit signs. We don’t have enough speed bumps. We don’t have enough things in place that are going to make people take it more seriously. These kids don’t have a playground here.”

Another resident, Adaly Castro, “We’ve seen a bunch of cars speeding by and not being aware of their surroundings and they don’t really care.”

Both residents are now calling for change.

“There’s no money put into anywhere for them to play so therefore they’re playing in the street. I hope the park will invest more money into the park for these kids and for their safety,” Baxter said.

“There should be more speed limit signs and signs to watch out for kids so people can be more aware that there’s kids outside playing,” Castro added. Neighbors say they plan to raise money to help and support the family however they can.

Currently, police do not believe that impairment was a factor in the crash, but the Traffic Team is continuing to investigate the incident. Provo Police stated, “Our heartfelt condolences are with the family.”

No additional information is available at this time.