Miami

Man Arrested in NW Miami-Dade Hit-and-Run That Killed Pedestrian

Luis Mozas, 25, was arrested in the crash that killed 58-year-old Jose L. Hernandez-Garcia

Police say they've arrested a hit-and-run driver who struck and killed a pedestrian in northwest Miami-Dade earlier this month.

Luis Mozas, 25, is facing charges of leaving the scene of a crash involving death and attempted tampering with physical evidence in the May 9 crash that killed 58-year-old Jose L. Hernandez-Garcia, an arrest report said.

Hernandez-Garcia was attempting to cross the street on Northwest 173 Drive and 47th Avenue around 11 p.m. when he was struck by a Hyundai Elantra, the report said. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded and pronounced him dead at the scene.

Surveillance video showed the vehicle speeding up behind Hernandez-Garcia. Police said the driver fled without stopping to help or call 911.

On May 17, officers found the car, which had front end damage and evidence that the windshield had been replaced, the report said. Mozas admitted to detectives that he was the driver who hit the pedestrian and fled the scene, the report said.

Mozas also told detectives he cleaned blood spatter and hair from the dash, seats and center column and called a glass company to replace the windshield, the report said. Mozas said he was "afraid the responding police officers would find the marijuana clippings in his car," the report said.

Mozas, of Miami Gardens, was booked into jail and later released. Attorney information wasn't available.

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