MIRAMAR, FLA. (WSVN) - A South Florida pastor has raised the reward for anyone with information on a hit and run that left a Broward man hospitalized.
Pastor Eric Readon donated $1,000 to Broward Crimestoppers in hopes of finding the person responsible for sending 28-year-old Deferious Puyol to the hospital, on April 1.
His family has made several painful, emotional pleas for the person to come forward. “I cry constantly because I’m like, ‘Is he gonna wake up? Is he going to come out of this? Is he going to be all right?'” said Devara Puyol, the victim’s mother, “so I’m still, one day at a time, coping with the situation.”
Related: Mother makes plea after son left comatose due to hit and run
According to police, Puyol was walking in Miramar, along Miramar Parkway and State Road 7, when he was hit by a driver who fled the scene.
“We decided to step out and to raise this reward, $1,000, praying someone will come forth,” said Readon. “It’s just sad that you hit somebody, and you leave them on a side of the road in the worst shape that you would leave an animal. We don’t treat human beings this way.”
Surveillance video shows the victim walking that night, moments before he was hit off camera.
“He has a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain, he has a broken leg, which they have to do surgery on that cause the bone is out of place,” Puyol said. “Right now, I found out he has pneumonia.”
The victim is now in a medically-induced coma and is unable to breathe on his own.
His family is not giving up on finding the driver. “I know somebody knows something,” Puyol said. “Just come forward. That’s all I ask. I just want justice for my son.”
Readon hopes the increased reward will prompt someone to come forward. “We are going to continue to help this family and raise the reward as much as we can until somebody is brought to justice,” he said.
Officials continue to investigate this case. Unfortunately, they do not have a description of the vehicle involved.
If you have any information on this hit and run, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $3,000 reward.
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