HIALEAH, FLA. (WSVN) - Hialeah Police are searching for the driver responsible for a hit-and-run that left an elderly man dead.
Officials said 79-year-old Orlando Quiala was struck while crossing the street to visit a friend at a cafe near East 17th Street and Fourth Avenue, Tuesday.
A pedestrian said he witnessed the crash.
“I was walking down the block with my dogs, and as I walked down, Mr. Pedestrian, he was walking down the street, and he turned around, and the car came and just hit Mr. Citizen,” he said.
The witness said the driver then took off.
“He kept on going down, and [Quiala] was unconscious on the [ground],” he said.
Newly released surveillance video showed the Toyota sedan that, police said, was involved in the crash fleeing the scene.
Paramedics transported the victim in critical condition to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Speaking in Spanish, his wife, Olga La Raya, said she is now left to mourn her husband following this tragedy.
“He was an excellent person,” she said.
Police are now looking for a red, four-door Toyota with damage to the front.
While officials continue their search for the driver, La Raya hopes whoever is responsible comes forward.
“Just because you have a car, doesn’t mean you can use it to run down and kill an elderly person,” she said.
If you have any information on this hit-and-run, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $1,000 reward.
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