Man Wanted in Hallandale Hit and Run Caught in Georgia

Man who police say ran over two pedestrians last month behind bars in Broward

The Hollywood man who police say struck two pedestrians at a Hallandale Beach restaurant parking lot then fled the scene has been arrested in Georgia and is behind bars in Broward, authorities said Thursday.

Vagiff Safarov, 61, is facing three counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon in the Feb. 12 incident.

Hallandale Beach Police say Safarov struck two pedestrians with his car in the parking lot of the Flanagan's at 4 North Federal Highway.

One of the victims, Efrain Lopez, suffered a serious head injury and recently died, police said. The other victim, Joby Benson, suffered a broken arm.

Surveillance video showed the driver gunning his engine and hitting the two men, literally driving over one of them. Another camera shows the SUV dragging one of the victims and another victim chasing the vehicle.

A Broward judge issued a warrant for Safarov's arrest, and he was arrested in Georgia and brought to Broward to face the charges, police said.

Safarov was being held on $150,000 bond. It was unknown whether he has an attorney.

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