Sunny Isles Dad Killed By Van; Wife And 2 Children Injured

SUNNY ISLES, FL — A 34-year-old father was killed Sunday night when a Honda Odyssey struck him, his two young children and his wife as they walked along Collins Avenue just a few blocks from their home. Amir Pelleg was pronounced dead on the scene in the 17400 block. Pelleg's wife, 32-year-old Zulma Pelleg, was taken to Aventura Hospital while their two-year-old and six-year-old daughters were both taken to Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital.

The driver was identified as 26-year-old Joseph Franco of nearby Aventura, who remained on the scene. Franco was not immediately charged but Miami-Dade traffic homicide detectives were continuing to investigate the incident on Monday.

The busy street was back to normal on Monday but someone had placed flowers in a public bus shelter near where the family was struck. A concrete dividing wall that separates the oceanfront park from the sidewalk had visible damage where it was struck by the Honda.

Detective Lee Cowart of the Miami-Dade Police Department told Patch that the family appeared to be out for a walk at the time of the incident. The mother was pushing her youngest child in a stroller as they walked north along the oceanfront street just outside the public park.

"He was traveling north in the middle lane of Collins Avenue," Cowart said of the driver. "He veered from the center of Collins Avenue and kept veering to the curbside, jumped the curb, ran into them and then hit a concrete wall."

Someone had placed flowers in a public bus shelter near where the family was struck. Photo by Paul Scicchitano.