SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (WSVN) — The Florida Highway Patrol has confirmed it has recovered the vehicle involved in a fatal accident that killed a man and put a woman in the hospital early Tuesday morning. However, the driver behind the crash remains at large.
Police detectives continue to search for the driver responsible for a fatal hit and run crash that killed 67-year-old Carlos Jesus Pildain and has injured 55-year-old Dixiana Pildain.
Around noon Tuesday, Florida Highway Patrol troopers found a silver Cadillac Escalade with front-end damage located at 52nd Street and Southwest 95th Avenue.
Investigators with the Florida Highway Patrol said the driver of the Escalade slammed into a small black Toyota at the intersection of Bird Road and Southwest 97th Avenue, just before 1 a.m. “I just saw when the car came, hit him and the car just started spinning,” said Manuela Hernandez, who called 911 right after she witnessed the crash.
The impact killed Pildain and injured Pilda. “When I went up, the wife tried to talk to the husband because she was conscious; she tried to smack his face to see if he was conscious, and he never really reacted to it,” said Hernandez.
That is when, police said, the driver of the SUV sped off.
German Eddie Rodriguez is upset that someone would drive so recklessly and harm another’s life. “A person is dead because of unconsciousness, of people just doing whatever they want, driving however they want and causing misery,” he said.
Witnesses said the driver of the SUV was speeding and other drivers had to swerve out of the way to dodge being hit. “This guy is driving 120 mph in a 40 zone and then you see this accident,” said Rodriguez.
Rodriguez said he tried to pursue the fleeing vehicle but could not catch up. “I tried to go after him, at least try to get as close as possible, but this guy was…” he said, trailing off.
When Rodriguez notified police, operators advised him to stop following the driver, and he returned to the accident scene. “I see all his tools on the ground, a working guy with his wife, and it’s just heartbreaking,” he said.
Rescue crews transported the injured female passenger to Kendall Regional Medical Center where her condition is unknown. She was awake when she was transported. The man died on impact.
If you have any information on this fatal hit and run crash, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.
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