FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - Police are investigating after a driver struck and killed a pedestrian before fleeing in Fort Lauderdale.
Surveillance cameras from a nearby business captured the moment 52-year-old Wilfredo Barberan-Santiago was struck along the westbound lanes of Sunrise Boulevard and Northwest 11th Avenue at around 2:20 a.m., Thursday.
“We need to find this person,” said Pilar Santiago, the victim’s mother. “I don’t think it’s fair for anybody to be hit like that and leave in the floor, like it was an animal. He wasn’t an animal. He was a human being. Please, please, come forward.”
Barberan was on his way to work when he was killed.
“He was alive when the police arrived,” said Santiago.
“He was still alive,” said Zuleika Alvarez, the victim’s niece, “so maybe if that person would have stopped and went right away and start CPR, it could have saved a life.”
Benny Marrero, who works nearby at Broadway Auto Repair, saw the aftermath of the crash, checked the business’ surveillance footage and saw the incident unfold.
“I saw there was a lot of police activity out front, so I’m trying to figure out what happened,” he said. “As I played the camera back, I saw the guy get hit by this SUV that had no intention of stopping it looked like. He just barreled right through the guy like he wasn’t even there. I couldn’t believe that somebody would just not even put brakes. They just kept going.”
Marrero said crashes on the street in front of the repair shop are a frequent occurrence.
“At least once a month you’ll hear about somebody getting hit because they’re always crossing in the middle rather than at the intersection,” said Marrero. “This should not happen. I mean, it really shouldn’t. People should really pay attention because, who knows? That’s somebody’s father, somebody’s brother that just got killed because somebody just didn’t care.”
The victim’s family pleaded for the alleged hit-and-run driver to come forward.
“He was a great human being, honest person,” said Santiago. “I know that you have a mom, or you have a brother or sister. Please, do that. The Lord is always going to hear you, please. Do it for him. Do it for me and for him.”
Detectives describe the vehicle to be a gray or light blue SUV with front-end damage and urge any potential witnesses to come forward.
The victim’s family said he leaves behind a daughter and two grandchildren.
If you have any information on this fatal 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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