Maykol Santiesteban: Hialeah Teen Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison After Deadly Joyride Crash Kills Three Women

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A Hialeah teenager has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for a tragic crash that claimed the lives of three family members in 2024, leaving their loved ones shattered

16-year-old Maykoll Santiesteban, who was just 15 at the time of the incident, had pleaded guilty in February 2025 to three counts of vehicular homicide and three counts of driving without a license causing death

Prosecutors had originally said he could face between 28 and 65 years behind bars but after his plea agreement, his sentence was reduced. 


Maykoll Santiesteban 


According to police reports, on April 23, 2024, Santiesteban took his sister’s car and went for a joyride with two friends. 

He was reportedly driving at a high speed which was way over the limit, when he slammed into a vehicle on the 400 block of Southeast Fifth Street.

The collision claimed the lives of three beloved family members who were driving in the same car.

Yarnia Garcia Hernandez, 39, and her aunt, Gloria Hernandez, 53, were pronounced dead at the scene.  

Yarnia’s mother, Liliana Hernandez Molina, 66 was severely injured in the crash and fought for her life for over five months before she died from her injuries, as per Local10 News.

Police also noted that when Santiesteban was joyriding with friends he did not have a driver’s license, and didn't know how to operate a car.

CCTV footage from the scene, as seen in the video below showed him speeding at over 80 mph in the moments leading up to the crash. 



Santiesteban’s father, Reynel Santiesteban, pleaded for leniency during the sentencing.
“He is still young; remember he is just a child,” he said.

On the otherhand, the victims’ family expressed heartbreak during the trial, while they demanded justice. Yarnia’s father, Bob Garcia, tearfully said, “She was my wife. I loved her and she loved me very much. That pain will never leave me.”

A relative of the victims, Gipsy Garcia, also told Santiesteban in court, “We not only lost three lives that day, you took from us our sense of peace.”



In addition to prison, Santiesteban will serve 15 years of probation and is prohibited from obtaining a driver’s license during that time.

Santiesteban’s defense attorney, Scott Kotler, had previously asked for a youthful offender sentence, emphasizing that his client’s age should be taken into account.

But his plea was rejected and Santiesteban was charged and prosecuted as an adult. For more true crime stories and updates on other high-profile cases sign up for our free newsletter here. 


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