An 82-year-old grandmother was killed on May 17 after being backed over in a Publix parking lot in Panama City Beach, Florida. The driver, Carlos Suarez-Contreras, 26, who is alleged to be in the United States illegally, has been charged in the death of Deborah Murphy.
Murphy was walking in a crosswalk outside the grocery store when she was struck by a Toyota 4Runner driven by Suarez-Contreras. According to an arrest affidavit, the vehicle backed over Murphy, pushing her to the ground before continuing to back up. Murphy was transported to a hospital and later died from her injuries.
Suarez-Contreras, who has stated he is from Venezuela, is being held without bond. Authorities believe he is a flight risk due to his immigration status. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of driving with a canceled license and causing a death, a third-degree felony. His Georgia driver's license had been canceled, according to arrest records.
Luis Sanabria, 29, a passenger in the vehicle who also stated he is from Venezuela, has an expired visa and was released into the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Sanabria provided sworn testimony that Suarez-Contreras was operating the vehicle at the time of the crash. He returned to the scene after being contacted by Suarez-Contreras, having initially left on foot before law enforcement arrived.
Florida law prohibits unauthorized residents from obtaining a state-issued driver's license. However, 19 states and the District of Columbia do issue licenses to unauthorized residents, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Murphy's daughters described her as a "vibrant" woman and an "amazing friend, teacher, mother and grandmother." Her family is seeking justice for her death.
Suarez-Contreras' attorney has stated that his client did not commit a crime and that the incident was "unfortunate and not criminal in nature."
Nationally, approximately 16% of fatal traffic crashes in 2024 involved drivers with invalid licenses. In the same year, over 71,000 pedestrians were injured and 7,080 were killed in traffic crashes. Florida reported 10,501 pedestrian-related crashes in 2024, resulting in 678 fatalities. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration identifies drivers failing to check behind them when backing up in parking lots as a common cause of pedestrian crashes.