Florida Highway Patrol

Family of Hit-and-Run Victim Desperate for Answers

The Florida Highway Patrol released video of a fatal hit-and-run in hopes of tracking down the driver involved.

The crash happened around 4:30 a.m. on July 25 on State Road 826 eastbound, just east of I-95.

FHP said a 2000 Mazda Protege was traveling eastbound in the middle lane on 826, while a scooter was traveling in the outside lane of 826.

Video shows the Mazda changing lanes into the outside lane, failing to slow down for the scooter and colliding with it from the back.

The collision caused the right side of the scooter to go down onto its side, travel off the roadway and crash onto the shoulder.

The driver of the scooter, 28-year-old German Albelda Martinez of West Park, was ejected and later pronounced dead.

"He was on his way home from work and somebody took his life, and he ruined my life and his family's life too," said Martinez's girlfriend, Maria Mella.

The driver of the Mazda kept driving and left the scene. The vehicle is possibly green in color and will have damage to the front.

Martinez's family is desperate for answers.

"The pain that I feel, my mom and my dad feels, my sister feels, is not something that I want anyone to feel that way, because it's not good," said the victim's sister, Patrizia Martinez.

Anyone with information about this crash or the driver of the Mazda is urged to call Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS.

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