Guilty verdict for man who caused deadly Winter Park daycare crash

A Winter Park resident held responsible for a deadly daycare car crash in April will be put behind bars later this month.

Robert Corchado, the man arrested for causing a deadly crash that launched a car into a Winter Park daycare, awaits his sentencing after being found guilty on seven charges on Dec. 8 by an Orange County jury.

Corchado was found guilty of leaving the scene of an accident with death, two counts of leaving the scene of an accident with injuries, trafficking heroin, possession of cocaine with intent to sell or deliver, possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The trial focused on the events dating back to April 9, when Corchado crashed into a Toyota Solara along Goldenrod Road and sent it flying into the Goldenrod Road KinderCare. The crash killed 4-year-old Lily Quintus and injured at least a dozen other children.

Corchado immediately fled the scene, but turned himself in less than 48 hours later.

He allegedly left the crash site due to the drugs he was carrying, which police found later in his SUV, prosecutors said.

Corchado will be sentenced on Jan. 16, facing at least 30 years in prison.

“I hope he gets the sentence that he deserves,” Tom Greenman, Lily’s grandfather told media after the ruling. “What he did to my family and the other children and teachers is unspeakable. This is the only thing that comes close to us getting any kind of satisfaction.”

The admitted drug dealer said he had no idea that the car he rear-ended had crashed into the daycare center, though the jury wasn’t convinced.

“As far as what Mr. Corchado said happened that day, there were witness that said that just wasn’t true,” Assistant State Attorney Ryan Williams told media. “That’s a difficult thing for a jury to swallow.”

Sgt. Kim Montes of the Florida Highway Patrol told the Observer in April that Corchado is a habitual felon. He has a history of drug charges, hit-and-runs and gang association with the Latin Kings, she said.

“We would like to see him serve time in prison so that he does not hurt anybody either behind the wheel or in the other activities he’s involved in,” Montes said.

The presiding judge said on Dec. 8 that Corchado's habitual offender status could impact his sentencing.