SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the death of a 14-year-old boy who, investigators said, was struck by a car in Southwest Miami-Dade just days before Thanksgiving.
Troopers said a black Audi was heading north on Southwest 112th Avenue, near 232nd Street, when the victim attempted to cross the four-lane roadway and was hit by the vehicle, Tuesday evening.
The teen was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to the GoFundMe created for the victim, his 8-year-old cousin witnessed the horrific accident.
A witness who didn’t want to be identified told 7News they saw the accident and tried to help.
“I threw my car in park in the middle of traffic, and I just jumped out,” said the witness.
The good Samaritan tried to help by stopping traffic and immediately calling 911.
“I walked up to him, I said, ‘Hey, hello, can you hear me? Are you OK?'” said the witness. “I lifted his shirt to see his lungs, to see if he was breathing any air. I checked his pulse on his wrist and his neck, and it was nothing. It was too late.”
The driver of the Audi remained at the scene.
“When he saw me down helping him, he told me he wasn’t sure what was going on, he said he heard a loud sound, and that’s what made him stop,” said the witness.
Word of the crash spread quickly on social media, with friends and teammates identifying the victim as 14-year-old Lazaro. Many honored him by sharing videos and pictures from their time together.
Many remembered Lazaro as a talented football player and kind person.
“He was a really good kid. He was smart,” said Christopher Rodriguez, who is a friend of the victim. “He was really good at football. He was really good. He was going to go somewhere.”
Some of Lazaro’s friends left flowers near the area where he was hit.
Kathy Pruitt, whose son played football with Lazaro, spoke to 7News.
“When I found out exactly who it was, I was like. ‘Oh, my God.’ He was a good kid,” said Pruitt. “He was only a kid. Mother is nice, brothers nice, the entire family.”
Pruitt urged the community to come together to prevent similar tragedies on the busy road located near a high school.
“This is a busy road, 112 [Avenue in] Allapatah is a busy road. If they live in this area, they know how the speeding is,” she said. “As you can see, speeding trucks, just sped by us. You see the cars all day. This is dangerous, and it needs to stop.”
The witness who tried to help Lazaro sends condolences to his family.
“Less than a month before Christmas, this is such a tough and hard time, and I just want to tell the family that I am so, so sorry,” said the witness.
FHP is still investigating the crash, but it remains unclear whether or not the driver will face charges.
Lazaro’s family has set up a GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses. If you would like to contribute, click here.
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