Four Men Arrested After Miami Police Say Crash Was Staged To Seek Insurance PIP Benefits

Arrests follow surveillance review at Northwest 8th Avenue and Northwest 70th Street

Four men were arrested in Miami after investigators concluded a Wednesday-night traffic crash was deliberately staged to support an insurance claim, according to jail and arrest records. The case centers on a collision reported in the area of Northwest 8th Avenue and Northwest 70th Street.

The suspects were identified as Dairon Palacios, 18, of West Palm Beach; John Michael Acosta, 21, of Miami; Adriano Prada, 19, of Miami; and Dimas Tomayo, 30, of Hialeah. They were booked into jail early Thursday, January 29, 2026.

How investigators say the crash unfolded

Police response to the crash led to a review of surveillance video by a detective, who concluded the incident was pre-planned rather than accidental. Investigators reported that the footage showed two vehicles colliding and then a person leaving one of the vehicles and getting into another car that had been waiting nearby before fleeing.

Investigators also reported that Tomayo’s role captured on video did not match what had been reported to law enforcement at the scene. In post-crash interviews, Tomayo told investigators he had been offered $1,500 and repairs to his vehicle in exchange for participating.

Alleged payments and communications described in reports

As detectives continued interviews, investigators reported that Palacios initially denied knowing what was happening but later said he was aware the crash would occur and expected to be paid $400. Prada told investigators in Spanish that he did not know others involved and said he believed he was deceived, describing a promised payment of $600.

Investigators reported that communication among participants involved WhatsApp, and that Tomayo was given contact information for a tow-truck driver who would take the vehicle to a body shop for repairs.

Charges and the alleged objective of the scheme

Records show the men were arrested on charges that include insurance fraud involving a staged accident, organized scheme to defraud, and providing false information to law enforcement.

Investigators reported they believed the crash was organized to generate documentation of a traffic accident and support a motor-vehicle tort claim seeking personal injury protection (PIP) benefits through auto insurance.

What happens next

The case remains in the early stages, with charging documents relying heavily on surveillance footage, inconsistencies in statements, and admissions described in arrest reports. Court proceedings will determine whether the allegations are substantiated beyond a reasonable doubt. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

• Date of arrests and booking: Thursday, January 29, 2026
• Location of reported crash: Northwest 8th Avenue and Northwest 70th Street, Miami
• Alleged intended claim: personal injury protection (PIP) benefits tied to an auto-insurance claim