State says driver in fatal day care crash turned himself in as part of plan to flee country

Robert Alex Corchado being held in Orange County Jail

ORLANDO, Fla. – The state on Friday claimed that a man arrested in connection with a fatal crash at a Winter Park day care turned himself in to authorities as part of a plan to flee the country.

[VIDEO: Corchado's first appearance | AUDIO: 911 calls in previous crash | Call 2]

Robert Alex Corchado, 28, turned himself in at the Orange County Jail on Thursday, a day after a 4-year-old girl was killed and 14 others were injured in a crash at the KinderCare Learning Center at 4035 Goldenrod Road.

A judge on Friday ordered that Corchado remain jailed after the state said it will file a motion to have Corchado's $100,000 bond revoked, adding that the Florida Highway Patrol believed he planned to flee the country.

"(The trooper) has on good authority that this defendant is planning to, once he posts bond, to flee the country," the prosecutor said.

"Basically, we felt that he was a flight risk and that he was a danger to the public and we didn't feel that he should be bonding out, basically, for the safety of the public," FHP spokeswoman Wanda Diaz said later in an interview with Local 6.  "It could be that he was leaving the country, it could be to another state, but he was definitely a flight risk."

The judge ruled that Corchado be held on no bond until Monday, at which time the judge would rule on the state's motion.

Troopers said Corchado was driving a Dodge Durango that hit a Toyota Solara near the day care. 61-year-old driver of the Solara Albert Campbell lost control of his vehicle and slammed into the building, which was holding more than 50 children and staff members, officials said.

The FHP later issued an arrest warrant for Corchado on charges of leaving the scene of an accident involving death and leaving the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injuries.

It's not known if Campbell could face charges. Campbell's attorney said his client has been overwhelmed with media requests and that the experience has been very traumatic.

The Durango was found abandoned Wednesday afternoon at a home on Orange Avenue near Aloma Avenue in Winter Park.

Investigators said, however, that Corchado, after the crash, rented a black Mazda SUV with the Florida tag CHR-Q41 from Enterprise on Semoran Boulevard in Winter Park.

A spokesperson with FHP said that car was located Saturday evening at an apartment complex on Dean Road after Corchado's attorney informed officials where the vehicle was located and provided the keys to it.

[RELATED:  Who is Robert Corchado?]

Records show Corchado, who the FHP says has ties with the Latin Kings gang, was arrested in 2013 on charges of careless driving, hit-and-run and leaving the scene of property damage. He is currently awaiting trial on those charges.

In December, according to authorities, Corchado also left the scene of a crash.  Officials said heroin, cocaine and marijuana were found in his possession, and investigators believe he was going to sell the drugs. Previously, he spent three years in prison on drug charges.

The girl killed in the crash was identified as Lily Quintus. 

Lily Quintus, 4, was identified as the girl killed in the day care crash. Facebook

Lily's mother, Nicole Quintus, spoke out about the moment she learned what had happened.

"It's not something you expect," Quintus said. "So you get a call from a teacher screaming that a car just ran through your daughter's school and you need to come there as soon as you can. It's not good."

[RELATED: Family mourns death of 4-year-old]

Local 6 spoke to Corchado's brother, who says his entire family is hurting for the victims and their families.

Orange County Fire Rescue said 14 others were injured, including two who were treated at the scene.

On Friday morning, Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children said one patient remains in critical condition.  Officials said three others were now listed in fair condition and three others had been discharged.

A GoFundMe.com page was created for the Quintus family to help with funeral and medical expenses.  As of Friday morning, more than $40,000 had been raised.

[WATCH:  Families deal with aftermath of day care crash]

A GoFundMe page was also created for 3-year-old June DeCalzada, who is in critical condition at Arnold Palmer Hospital.

The page says June will need long-term medical care and recovery.

[RELATED: Family seeks donations for victim of crash]

[WATCH:  Witnesses recall scene of crash at KinderCare]

Watch Local 6 News and stay with ClickOrlando.com for more on this story.


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