Driver Convicted in Death of 5-Year-Old at Bradenton Mobile Home Park

A Manatee County jury has found a 45-year-old man guilty in the tragic death of a 5-year-old girl who was struck and killed while playing near her home in a Bradenton mobile home park.

Adrian Noel Castillo was convicted Wednesday of driving while his license was canceled, suspended, or revoked, resulting in death. The incident occurred on February 2, 2024, at the Sunset Village Mobile Home Park, where Castillo drove through a parking lot near a laundromat.

According to court records, the young girl and her sister had been playing in a designated safety zone painted on the pavement. Castillo narrowly missed one child on a scooter before fatally striking the 5-year-old.

Prosecutors presented evidence that Castillo had been driving unlawfully for years, with a revoked license stemming from a 2018 DUI case. Witnesses and surveillance footage showed that he frequently disregarded his suspension and continued to operate vehicles.

Castillo now faces up to 92 months in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.