Florida Couple Found Passed Out in Drug-Filled U-Haul With Two Children Living Inside, Deputies Say

A Florida couple has been arrested after deputies discovered two young children inside a U-Haul van that appeared to have become the family’s living space. The adults were reportedly unconscious or passed out in the front seats at a gas station in Tampa, while the children were left unsecured in the back of the vehicle, surrounded by drugs and prescription medications within easy reach. The discovery prompted a child abuse investigation and raised serious concerns about the children’s safety.

The incident happened around 7:35 a.m. on November 7, 2026, at a gas station in the 6300 block of North Dale Mabry Highway. Deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office responded after receiving a 911 call about two unresponsive people inside a U-Haul van. When officers approached, they found 46-year-old Vilmarie Acosta Diaz slumped in the passenger seat, with her two children in the back. As deputies approached the driver’s side, the van unexpectedly began rolling forward.

The driver, identified as 44-year-old Arian Hernandez Hernandez, was ordered to stop and get out of the vehicle. Deputies said he had red, glossy eyes and was unsteady on his feet, leading to his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence. Acosta Diaz also appeared disoriented when officers instructed her to exit. During the encounter, deputies allegedly discovered narcotics on the passenger seat and later found methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and several prescription medications inside the van.

One of the most concerning discoveries was a muscle relaxant medication, methocarbamol, that was unsecured and within reach of the children. Investigators also found alprazolam, commonly known by the brand name Xanax, and cyclobenzaprine among the medications recovered. According to the sheriff’s office, the van had no child safety seats, and the interior appeared to have been arranged as a place for the family to live. Authorities have not disclosed how long the children had been staying inside the vehicle.

Acosta Diaz, identified by authorities as the children’s mother, faces two counts of child abuse, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, two counts of possession of drugs without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia. Hernandez Hernandez was charged with driving under the influence. Acosta Diaz remained in the Hillsborough County Jail on a $15,800 bond, while Hernandez’s bond was set at $500, according to the latest reports.

Fortunately, the two children were removed from the van and placed in the care of a family member who arrived at the scene. Sheriff Chad Chronister condemned the circumstances, pointing to the absence of car seats, the presence of drugs within the children’s reach and an allegedly impaired driver behind the wheel. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not publicly released the children’s names or ages. Both suspects are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Source: https://lawandcrime.com/crime/how-long-have-these-kids-been-in-here-2-children-discovered-living-inside-u-haul-van-with-couple-passed-out-at-gas-station-cops-say/