Police find car in fatal Fort Lauderdale hit-and-run

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - Police have located the car that, they believe, was involved in a hit-and-run accident that claimed the life of a pedestrian in Fort Lauderdale, early Friday morning.

Fort Lauderdale Police found the black BMW 7 Series with heavy front-end damage and shattered windshields along the 2500 block of Northwest 89th Avenue in Sunrise.

An area resident told 7News he called police after spotting the driver parking the sedan in front of his home. “It literally looked like they were just dumping it, like it was involved in an accident, something that you just see out of a movie where, ‘Here. let me bash a window. My car was stolen,'” said Raul Zacarius. “See the back window completely smashed out? And the front window passenger side, it’s like if someone had flown in and crashed into it.”

The discovery comes hours after the fatal crash that, investigators said, took place at the intersection of Broward Boulevard and Northwest 15th Avenue, just before 6 a.m. Police said the victim was crossing the street when the motorist struck him and fled the scene.

7Skyforce flew over the scene, where the body could be seen covered by a yellow tarp as police investigated.

A woman who lives nearby said the victim was a homeless man who spends a lot of time in the area.

Another witness, Julie Pratt, said she crossed the street just before the hit-and-run. “As soon as I got my foot on the sidewalk here, in front of Dunkin’ Donuts … bam,” she said. “I looked back and [thought], ‘What in the world?'”

Police had said the car they wanted was a black BMW 3 Series with a back window possibly missing. The damage to the 7 Series car they found, however, is consistent with what detectives suspected.

Witnesses said someone was with the officers when the car was recovered. “The police officers are talking and saying, ‘This is the suspect, and it looks like he was involved in a hit-and-run with a female, and there may be a fatality,'” said Zacarius. “‘Go get some gloves on and start inspecting because he has some blood on him.'”

The man who owns the car is cooperating, and no arrests have been made. It remains unclear who was driving the car at the time of the accident.

Pratt said, at the time of the hit-and-run, there is never heavy traffic. “That time of the morning, traffic is not thick. It’s very thin,” said Pratt, “so I’m like, ‘What could’ve happened?’ I look back and there it is. The car just kept going.”

The westbound lanes of Broward Boulevard were shut down at 15th Avenue for several hours but have since reopened.

The identity of the victim has not yet been released. However, the Salvation Army of Broward County near the scene said in a statement, “He was a gentleman that was trying his best to get back on his feet and become independent. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. He will truly be missed.”

Police said they would like to talk to anyone who may have witnessed the accident.

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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