Man accused of throwing kids over 6-foot fence after crash arrested for child neglect

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WBBH) - A Florida man was arrested for child neglect after a car crash in which three children were in the vehicle, authorities said.

The reported incident happened in Fort Myers, and the man in question is accused of trying to hide the kids by throwing them over a fence.

Deputies say Larry Rada Jr. ran to a stranger’s house in South Fort Myers after crashing on Saturday afternoon and threw three young children over a nearly 6-foot-tall fence.

He then jumped over the fence himself to hide.

The children were taken to the hospital, checked out and released.

“It’s really just the lack of respect and care for not only the road safety, but the other people around him and the children,” Chase Engeldinger, Fort Myers resident, said.

Rada is facing three child neglect charges. Investigators haven’t said what his relationship is to the kids.

“It’s crazy. I can’t believe it. I can’t believe the kids had to be put in a situation like that. Obviously, he deserves whatever’s coming to him,” Sam Bay, Fort Myers resident, said.

Minutes before the crash, a Lee County deputy said they caught Rada driving recklessly down San Carlos Boulevard. When the deputy tried to stop him, that’s when Rada sped off.

The deputy did not chase for fear of putting other drivers in danger. Deputies say more charges could be filed for hit-and-run and fleeing.