Little girl, 6, died after her car seat was catapulted into air during fatal car crash caused by fleeing suspect... now her family are suing police

Published: 18:36, 2 August 2026 | Updated: 18:47, 2 August 2026 A six-year-old girl died after her car seat was hurled from a vehicle in a horrific crash allegedly caused by a fleeing driver.  Now, her parents are suing a Florida police officer, claiming the cop sparked an unnecessary 'dangerous pursuit' that resulted in Harlow Tran's death. The girl was killed in a May 5, 2024, crash in Coral Springs, Florida, when her great-grandmother's SUV was allegedly struck by 26-year-old Chevon Dalton Graham, who police say was fleeing a traffic stop, according to documents obtained by Daily Mail. Patrol Officer John Daddino tried to pull over Graham after spotting a car with 'extremely dark tints,' but investigators say the suspect sped away, accelerating to more than 100 mph to evade the traffic stop, per the documents. Arrest records stated the officer turned off his emergency lights and sirens - as required by department policy prohibiting pursuits - and watched as the vehicle continued speeding toward the intersection of West Sample Road and Northwest 85th Avenue. Graham's car slammed into the SUV carrying Harlow, splitting it in half and catapulting her car seat. She was airlifted to a hospital, where she later died from her severe injuries. Two other passengers were inside Graham's car and suffered minor injuries. Both identified Graham as the driver, according to the arrest records. Graham faces a string of charges, including aggravated fleeing resulting in serious injury or death, vehicular homicide and reckless driving. He is still awaiting trial. Harlow Tran, 6, died after her car seat was ejected during a car crash back in 2024 The aftermath of the horrific crash, police say 26-year-old Chevon Dalton Graham allegedly struck their SUV while fleeing from cops Their SUV was torn in half from the car crash Harlow's parents were at home just blocks from the crash scene and said they did not receive an immediate call regarding the wreckage. 'We didn't get the call until long after the scene,' Harlow's mother, Samari Curbelo told NBC 6 South Florida. 'Until the ambulance showed up,' her father Danny Tran added. The grief-stricken parents have now filed a lawsuit against the city of Coral Springs, alleging Officer Daddino initiated a dangerous high-speed police pursuit that led to their daughter's death.  According to the civil lawsuit obtained by Daily Mail, Harlow's parents allege Officer Daddino was negligent by initiating a 'dangerous and unreasonable vehicle pursuit' over a minor, nonviolent offense.  They claim he failed to end the chase when the risk to the public outweighed the need to apprehend Graham, ultimately leading to Harlow's demise.  The family is seeking $50,000 for pain and suffering under Florida’s Wrongful Death Act, a law that allows surviving family members to seek damages when someone’s death was allegedly caused by another person’s negligence. The financial compensation can cover losses such as funeral expenses, lost financial support, and the emotional suffering caused by the death. 'That’s the point of these policies, and it’s important they’re adhered to. When policies are not adhered to is when there’s a significant chance of ending with results like this,' the family's attorney Brian Valentine told the outlet. Coral Springs officials pushed back on the lawsuit, arguing the incident was not a chase and that Officer Daddino followed department policy by shutting off his lights and siren, per court records. Graham, bloodied and bruised, being cuffed by police after the crash Harlow's parents filed a lawsuit against the city of Coral Springs, alleging the officer initiated a dangerous high-speed police pursuit Harlow's mother and father, Samari Curbelo and Danny Tran Officer John Daddino (center) is being accused of initiating a high speed chase The girl's parents remember her as both 'the princess and the knight' Her grieving family is suing for $50,000 Surveillance video obtained by the outlet shows Daddino’s patrol car behind the Mercedes, with one clip appearing to show the officer’s emergency lights activated. Footage from the intersection appears to show both vehicles crossing the light, with the officer’s emergency lights no longer on.  Video from the next block shows the Mercedes speeding ahead, while Daddino’s patrol car trails behind. His cruiser arrived at the crash scene about three seconds after the collision. 'So, if you have a no-chase policy, how did you show up so quickly?' Danny said to the outlet. Dr Roy Taylor, a 45-year law enforcement veteran and police pursuit expert, reviewed the footage and report, concluding that he believes the incident was not a pursuit and that the officer followed protocol. 'You know maybe not perfectly. But based on him being in a situation where you have traffic, you've got parked cars, the speed he was going, he's got to have time to slow down to make these maneuvers or stop safely,' he told the outlet. Taylor said video shows the officer slowing down, but there was not enough time or distance to avoid the crash. He believes while the incident appears to look like a chase, it does not fit the criteria of one.  'Unfortunately for this family, there just wasn’t enough time for the policy to take effect,' he told the outlet. Harlow is remembered by her family as 'smart' with a 'really big personality.' 'She wanted to be the princess and the knight,' Danny told the outlet.  Daily Mail reached out to the City of Coral Springs and Coral Springs Police Department for comment.