A woman injured in a violent hit-and-run crash on Monday has died.
The hit-and-run accident happened near the intersection of Miami Gardens Drive and 18th Avenue around 8:30 p.m. Monday. The Florida Highway Patrol said a man was driving a black Mercedes westbound on Miami Gardens Drive at a high rate of speed and ran a red light at the intersection which started off the chain reaction accident.
FHP said the Mercedes slammed into a silver Toyota and sent 37-year-old Lucia Hernandez flying out of the vehicle and landing on the other side of the road. Another car then ran over Hernandez.
FHP said the Mercedes ended up spinning from the accident and hit a black tow truck near the scene. Investigators said the driver of the Mercedes ran from the scene shortly after the accident. Once the cars were stopped, the tow truck driver called 911 to try to help Hernandez.
"She looked pretty bad," said the tow truck driver, who did not want to be identified. "She wasn't breathing at first."
Hernandez was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center where she was pronounced dead Saturday evening, FHP said.
FHP spokesman Joe Sanchez says Hernandez's death means traffic homicide investigators will now be involved.
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According to Sanchez, the driver of the Mercedes left behind identification. While FHP is not identifying the driver, he said the driver and a lawyer are scheduled to meet with troopers to cooperate with the investigation.
"We're still working with that driver to turn himself in," Sanchez said. He then had a message for the driver: "It's just a matter of time before you turn yourself in or we'll be knocking on your door."
