A North Miami Beach man was taken into custody on Tuesday, accused of a deadly hit-and-run that claimed the life of a Miami-Dade street vendor. Earl William Taylor, 70, is facing charges for departing from the scene of a crash that resulted in death, as told by authorities.
The incident, which happened early Sunday morning near Northeast Sixth Avenue and 149th Street, ended tragically for 67-year-old Madette Laurent, who was fatally struck by a 2012 Jeep Liberty. According to Local 10 News, Laurent was crossing the street when the collision launched her into the air before being run over by Taylor's vehicle.
In a shocking abandonment of basic human decency, the driver did not stop to offer assistance or check on the victim. Police stated that the body of Laurent was found at the scene and she was pronounced dead at approximately 5:33 a.m., merely minutes after the collision. The vendor, known in the area for selling her wares, was remembered by local residents with a mix of grief and frustration over the circumstances of her death.
Information leading to Taylor's arrest came via an anonymous tip received by Crime Stoppers, as per the arrest report. Detectives found Taylor's Jeep, which sustained significant damage, outside his residence. It matched the description of the vehicle caught on surveillance videos at the crime scene. Taylor, however, gave detectives a "self-serving statement," claiming that someone else had taken and returned his vehicle the prior evening. As reported by Local 10 News, Taylor is currently held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, with his bond not yet set.
Witnesses to the gruesome incident recounted their horror, with Abel St-Surin and his cousin Oliver expressing their shock. "It's not something I wanna remember," said Abel, while another witness, Jama Étienne, condemned the act, stating, "You cannot hit someone and just walk away like that." The community's call for accountability grew louder, with a woman anonymously voicing through CBS Miami, “It's an accident but you guys make it worse when you hit someone. She's not an animal and you leave the scene. She has family."
