Coral Springs parents file wrongful death lawsuit against city after 6 year old child killed in crash allegedly involving police pursuit
Coral Springs, Florida – The parents of a 6-year-old girl killed in a devastating 2024 crash are now taking legal action against the City of Coral Springs, claiming that police actions during a pursuit contributed to the deadly outcome in a busy intersection.
The lawsuit was filed by Danny Tran and Samari Curbelo, the parents of Harlow Jet Tran, who died in a violent crash on May 5, 2024. The incident happened at the intersection of Sample Road and Northwest 85th Avenue in Coral Springs during rush hour traffic, a time when roads are heavily congested and drivers have little room for error.
According to the complaint, the chain of events began when police attempted a traffic stop involving a 26-year-old driver, Chevon Graham, for what authorities described as a minor violation involving excessively tinted windows. The lawsuit states that the stop occurred near West Sample Road and Woodside Drive. Graham allegedly fled at high speed shortly after officers initiated the stop.
Police later said the officer involved did not continue a direct chase and turned off lights and sirens in accordance with department policy. However, the lawsuit argues that the situation escalated in a way that still placed pursuing officers in close proximity to the fleeing vehicle as it moved through a heavily trafficked corridor.
The complaint alleges that as Graham continued driving at high speed, an officer followed in the same direction through a commercial area during peak traffic hours. It claims this created a dangerous environment for other motorists on the road. The lawsuit states that this decision “created or substantially contributed to a foreseeable zone of risk” for nearby drivers and passengers.
Moments later, Graham’s vehicle entered the intersection of West Sample Road and Northwest 85th Avenue at what investigators described as excessive speed. It collided with a 2018 Chevrolet carrying Harlow and her family. The impact was catastrophic.
Crash reports describe the force of the collision as so severe that the Chevrolet was split in half. Harlow, who was properly secured in a car seat, was ejected from the vehicle and suffered fatal injuries. She was pronounced dead following the crash, leaving her family and community in shock.
The lawsuit further claims that the pursuit took place in an area where the risks to public safety outweighed the need for immediate apprehension. It argues that alternative methods should have been used to avoid escalating danger in a dense traffic zone during peak hours.
Danny Tran and Samari Curbelo are seeking damages exceeding $50,000, the minimum required to file the case in Circuit Court. The claims include medical and funeral expenses, loss of net financial support, emotional suffering, and other damages permitted under Florida’s Wrongful Death Act.
The driver involved in the crash, Chevon Graham, has been arrested and is facing multiple serious charges, including vehicular homicide, aggravated fleeing resulting in death, and reckless driving. His case remains active in Broward County Circuit Court.
At the center of the lawsuit is a broader question about how and when police pursuits should be conducted in populated areas. The family’s claim argues that even limited involvement in a pursuit can carry serious consequences when it unfolds in crowded urban traffic conditions.
As the case moves forward, it is expected to examine police procedure, decision-making, and responsibility during high-risk traffic situations. For Harlow’s family, however, the legal process is about something more personal—accountability for a tragedy that unfolded in a matter of seconds, but changed their lives forever.
